Women's soccer set to open 2021 season

The Chapman women's soccer team returns to Wilson Field for the first time since November 2019 to face Cal Lutheran on Wed., Sep. 8 at 4 p.m. After an unprecedented 2020-21 season, all nine women's soccer teams return to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) after a competition-lacking 2020 fall.

The Panthers (11-4-3, 7-3-2 SCIAC) finished third in the 2019 SCIAC standings behind Pomona-Pitzer (20-2-2, 11-1-0 SCIAC) and Cal Lutheran (11-5-4, 8-2-2 SCIAC) who finished first and second respectively. Chapman takes the field with some key returning players from the 2019 season as well as an array of young talent. 

Senior Anna Montemor, a 2019 All-SCIAC selection and All-West Region Second Team member, returns to the Panthers offense for a second season. Montemor led the Panthers in 2019 with seven goals and four assists, she scored her first goal in Panther uniform just eight minutes into her career with a 1-0 win over Linfield. She scored one of the 11 hat tricks in Chapman history as part of Chapman 5-1 win over Caltech. 

Another key offensive player returns to the pitch in Riley Pidgeon. Pigeon played in every match during the 2019 season and scored four goals with three assists. Pigeon scored the game winner in a 2-0 victory over Pacific. 

Goalkeeper Kelsey Bland started every game for Chapman in 2019 and returns for another season in Panther uniform. She ranked third in the SCIAC with 0.53 goals against average and 80 saves. Bland went 11-4-3 on the season and recorded eight shutouts in goal. 

The 2021 Panthers are rich with young talent coming into the season. "There is a lot of excitement surrounding the youth on the team," said head coach Courtney Calderon. "They will have to step up and play positions we are short in. We will get them up to par on the way we play." 

Freshman Quinn Barrett will jump right in for the Panthers on the backline. Barrett, a native of Portland, Ore. was an All-League selection as a senior in high school and served as team captain. Erin Wilbanks is also one to watch on the backline. The native of Anchorage, Ak. was a four-year high school varsity player, a two-time All-Conference selection and was voted to the All-State tournament team.  

The addition of two California natives, four-time All-League selection Ella LaBrie and three-time All-League selection Emily Stocker, strengthen the Panther offence. 

The Panthers begin their season on the road with a 7 p.m. game at Whittier on Wed., Sep. 1.