Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Soccer team looked strong Wednesday night as they rolled Chapman University 3-1 at Memorial Stadium.
The Purple & Gold saw the return of senior midfielder Lauren Kai (Torrance, Calif.), who was out last game with an injury. Kai was 100% against the Panthers as she totaled a goal and an assist to lead the Poets to their fifth win.
Whittier is off to one of the best starts in program history as they improve to 5-1, 2-1 SCIAC and now hand Chapman their second loss on the season as they drop to 5-2, 1-2 SCIAC.
For the 5th time this season, the Poets have found the back of the goal first, this time from junior Miranda Yzabal (Whittier, Calif.) who received a nice through ball to the wing from Kai, which she crossed in front of Panther keeper Maeve O'Connor ultimately hitting the far post and crossing the crease. Watch Now!
This put WC on top 1-0 before receiving help in the 19th minute from Chapmans defensive unit. A CU defender attempted to head the ball back to O'Connor but the keeper was playing too far out and the ball was headed over her and into the goal, counting as an own goal.
This was the cushion the Poets needed as Chapman would come down in the second half to connect on a long strike from Emily Watts, which cut the deficit in half. But the comeback would stall as Kai would end the threat in the 79th minute with a nice 1-2 with the help of Andrea Aldama (Gardena, Calif.). Aldama put in a throw in, which found the foot of Kai, she made a quick turn and let the ball go bending top shelf past O'Connor putting the game out of reach.
Stella Thermos (Seal Beach, Calif.) again had a great game playing all 90:00 picking up eight saves. Whittier and Chapman finished tied at 17 on shots, while Chapman held the edge on corner kicks 5-2. Jazmin Gomez (Norwalk, Calif.) led the offense with four shots, while Lyla Matar (Glendale, Calif.), Yzabal, and Kai each registered three.
Whittier travels this Saturday, September 23 for a big match-up against the University of La Verne beginning at 7:00pm.
