Diaz Scores But Panthers Drop Opener

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's soccer team fell 3-1 in its season-opener against Hope International on Thursday. Junior Julia Diaz tied up the match in the first half with her third career goal.

Diaz came up in a big spot in the 27th minute with the Panthers (0-1) trailing 1-0. She corralled a bouncing ball at the top of the 18-yard box and found the bottom left corner of the net to knot the match at a goal apiece.

 The Royals (2-0) opened the scoring just five minutes earlier when Xochitl Sandoval buried a 1-on-1 opportunity to the top right corner. Less than a minute after Diaz's goal, Sandoval struck again as she touched Tara McNaught's cross past the keeper to put the Royals back on top.

HIU put the pressure on early in the second half as a free kick from 30 yards out floated into the crossbar and another shot went wide less than three minutes in. The Royals changed keepers and Chapman immediately challenged her. Kayla Jensen was barely settled in the net before junior Hayley Thorfinnson put a close range shot into the top left corner. Jensen was able to make the stop and keep her team's 2-1 lead.

Freshman Maeve O'Connor made her Chapman debut when she took over in goal in the second half. She made four saves while allowing one late goal that gave HIU a 3-1 lead. Junior Kristin Kleinow made the start in goal and had two saves.

Chapman is back on Wilson Field this Saturday at 7 p.m. when it hosts Bethesda University.

by Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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