Chapman blanks Pacific Lutheran to start season

ORANGE, Calif. - Chapman freshman Aimee Evans wasted no time scoring her first career goal. The rookie forward entered the game as a substitute in the 34th minute and less than two minutes later she gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead en route to a 2-0 victory over visiting Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.) on Saturday at Wilson Field.

Evans' goal came on a deep pass from senior D Kim Grant. The freshman then chipped the shot over the head of Lutes' goalkeeper Lauren Chambard and into the net for the eventual game-winner late in the first half of play.

Chapman (1-0) didn't stop there in its season opener. In the 54th minute, Grant was on the receiving end of another Panthers' goal, scoring with a header off a corner kick from senior M Megan Tharp to make it 2-0. With the goal and assist, it was the first three-point game of Grant's career.

Sophomore GK Chloe Canta earned the shutout in her first career start, making three saves - all in the second half. The Chapman defense held Pacific Lutheran (0-2) to just five shots. The Panthers have already equaled their season total in shutouts from 2008 with one.

The Panthers took 17 shots in the game with Chambard making seven saves for PLU. Chapman is 5-0-1 in its past season home openers and has never lost a home opener on Wilson Field.

Box Score: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wsoc/2009-10/stats/plu-cu.htm