Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Men's Soccer team saw Chapman University add a late goal Wednesday evening as they fell 2-1 at the Donald E. Graham Soccer Field.
With the loss, the Poets drop back to .500 at 3-3-1, 2-2-1 SCIAC, while Chapman moves to 4-4-2, 3-3 SCIAC.
The contest began very physical with CU controlling possession a majority of the time on Whittier's half. They struck first in the 23rd minute with a picture perfect goal, a cross from the right side from Grant Fremmerlid to Marco Saglimbeni in the box who then headed it to Jake Sarmiento far post who then headed in the go ahead strike.
But the Purple & Gold found their stride as they moved possession back into Chapman territory four minutes later adding the equalizer from Ryan Wood (Wilmslow, England). He received a pass on top of the box from Dylan Fortin (San Diego, Calif.) before moving through two defenders and connecting with a shot that Chapman keeper Sean Augustine couldn't handle.
Right before the break, Whittier had an opportunity to take the lead with Pablo Gomez (Cardiff by the Sea) taking a strike from outside the box, but his shot would hit a defender and ricochet up and over Augustine hitting the crossbar keeping the game deadlocked at 1-1.
In the second half, the game became more physical with four cards being drawn. Fortin got off the first good look for the Poets in the 63rd minute but it was saved by Augustine. Chapman added 15 of their 29 shots for the game and found the back of the goal on one of them from Fremmerlid that came in the 74th minute.
Following a failed clear attempt, Fremmerlid was fouled just outside the box. He would then step up and bend the free kick over the wall to the top left corner that gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead.
In the final 15 minutes, the Poets pushed the attack but managed only one look coming on a corner kick in the 84th minute from Ricardo Pena (Bell Gardens, Calif.) but his ball put in would be gathered by Augustine that secured the win for CU.
Whittier was outshot on the game 29-6 and saw CU hold a big advantage on corner kicks 13-2.
Jorge Rivas (Lake Forest, Calif.) played all 90:00 finishing with seven saves.
Whittier looks to get back into the win column this Saturday, September 26 as they host La Verne beginning at 7:00pm.
