Posted: Sep 03, 2010
Season starts for women's soccer in Oregon
ORANGE, Calif. – Looking for back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2003-2004, the Chapman University women’s soccer team kicks of its season with a three-game weekend trip to Oregon beginning Friday against Willamette University at 4:30 p.m. The Panthers then play Pacific University on Sunday at noon before concluding their trip on Labor Day at noon against NAIA foe Northwest Christian.
Chapman went 12-7 in 2009, its best record since finishing
with the same mark in 2006. For the Panthers to have the same
success in 2010, several holes offensively need to be filled with
the departure of All-Independent selections Stephanie Lambrakis,
Claire Callister and Megan Tharp. Of Chapman’s top four
offensive players statistically in 2010, junior M Kate
Lilly is the lone returner. Lilly, a 2009 first team
All-Independent selection was second on the team in goals (5),
assists (2), points (12) and shot-attempts. Some other returners on
offense who saw significant playing time last season are seniors
Bridget Thomson and Alicia
Fraticelli along with junior Breehn
Sasaki and sophomore M Aimee Evans.
While the Panthers have some holes to fill on offense, the strength of the team in 2010 is its defense which held opponents to 1.16 goals per game. The Panthers return two All-Independent selections on defense in senior D Nicole Santo and junior GK Chloe Canta. In her first year as the starting goalie, Canta finished with 75 saves and a goals-against average of 1.12 with seven shutouts. Junior Rosie Chinen and sophomore Tess Amato also return for Chapman.
Willamette which finished 2009 with a 9-9-2 record should prove to be a good season-opening test for the Panthers. The two teams played last season in Orange with Chapman squeezing out a 2-1 overtime win. Of the three teams on this Northwest swing, Willamette is the only team that was on Chapman’s 2009 schedule.
The Panthers have seven home games in 2010 with the home-opener on Wednesday, September 15 against Occidental College at 5 p.m. Chapman was 6-6 at home in 2010. Highlighting the Panthers’ schedule this year is a pair of road games against top-25 opponents Trinity (No. 5) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
by Chris Watts
Sports Information Assistant