Sobol strikes 'gold' as Panthers top Santa Cruz in OT

ORANGE, Calif. –  Junior F Val Sobol's second goal of the day was the game-winner in 'Golden Goal' overtime as the Chapman University women's soccer team defeated visiting UC Santa Cruz 2-1 in a non-conference match at Wilson Field on Sunday. The Panthers won their third match in a row and improved to 5-0 in non-conference games this season.

With the score tied at 1-1, Sobol took a pass from sophomore F Rebeccah Bortz, dribbled in from the left side and poked the ball just inside the right post to clinch the victory for Chapman (9-4) in the 98th minute. The goal was Sobol's second of the game and tied her with Bortz for the team lead with six goals this year.

The Panthers pressured UC Santa Cruz (7-6) on the offensive side of the ball throughout the second half and into overtime, dominating possession and out-shooting the Banana Slugs 19-2 over the final 53 minutes. Santa Cruz senior GK Monica Chazen made 10 saves, eight of which came after halftime.

Sobol's first goal came in the 19th minute on a penalty kick, the result of a Slugs foul in the goalie box, giving Chapman a 1-0 lead. The junior, whose previous career high was four goals in a season, nearly scored the go-ahead goal in the 87th minute when her high-arching shot from the left side hit the inside of the far post and ricocheted back in play.

UC Santa Cruz tied the game in the 32nd minute when junior F Justine Dougherty sent a direct kick up and over the head of Chapman sophomore GK Marissa Fehrman from the top of the 19. Fehrman made two saves for her ninth win of the season (9-3).

Chapman improved to 5-0-1 in its past six matches against former independent rival UC Santa Cruz. The Panthers return to SCIAC play on Wednesday when they travel to Claremont to face Pomona-Pitzer Colleges at 4 p.m.

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wsoc/2012-13/boxscores/20121007_69py.xml

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

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