Panthers advance to SCIAC Championship

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Junior Gretchen Rodenberger netted four goals to lead the Chapman University women's lacrosse team to a 10-7 victory over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the SCIAC Semifinals on Saturday afternoon. The win advances Chapman to the SCIAC Tournament Championship for the second time in school history and was the Panthers first over CMS this season.

Tied 7-7 with 12 minutes left in the contest, the Panthers rallied with a three-goal effort from their leading scorers to earn the 10-7 victory. Rodenberger lifted the Panthers to 8-7, scoring the game-winner at 12:15 on a pass from sophomore Stacey Zuppa. Senior Brooke Martini extended the Panther lead to 9-7 a few minutes later and Rodenberger followed with the insurance goal with less than a minute left.

Chapman took an early 3-1 lead with back-to-back goals from freshman Danielle Zahn. However, a pair of goals from Athena's Katie Hill tied the match up 3-3 with eight minutes left in the first half. Rodenberger put the Panthers back on top 4-3 at the 6:15 minute mark, but Claremont's Zoe Pinczower netted the equalizer at 4-4 to end the half.

Tied 4-4, Claremont came out hot scoring in the first 30 seconds of the half with another goal from Hill to take the Athena's first and only lead of the match. Trailing 5-4, the Panthers took back their lead 7-5 with goals from Zahn, Rodenberger and senior Kelsey Mackin. However the Athena's weren't out of it yet driving in two more goals over a one minute span tie the match 7-7 with 15 minutes left in the match.

Junior Tara Sonnemaker earned her 14th win of the season, while recording 10 saves at the net. Zuppa led the Panthers with three won draw controls and a pair of assists, while Mackin forced a pair of key turnovers and picked up a game-high five ground balls for Chapman.

The Panthers (15-3 overall, 9-2 SCIAC) will advance to the SCIAC Tournament Championship with time and place to be determined. Chapman will face the winner of Pomona-Pitzer and Occidental College who play Saturday at 7 p.m.

By Raquel Rinauro
Sports Information Assistant

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