ORANGE, CA, (OCT. 7, 2023)- The men followed the women's team to Chapman to take on the Panthers. The Poets were looking to get out of the funk they are currently in, but this game would also end in a Panthers victory. Chapman would hold on to win this game 3-1. 

The game began and both teams came out very physical. The Poets have been very competitive all year and fight hard each time they step on the field. Neither team was able to get anything going early in the game, but then in the 37th minute Chapman scored their first goal. Then about 5 minutes later in the 42 minute, the Panthers extended their lead, firing their second goal past the Poets goalie. Whittier was not backing down though and did not let these goals deter them from their game. In the 44th minute Rowan Slater found the open Kevin Bravo, who in turn fired the ball past the Chapman goalie to make the score 2-1 Panthers going into the half. 

After the scoring barrage in the first half, the SCIAC rivals both tightened up their defenses in the second. The Panthers and Poets continued to fire shots away, but neither was getting the opportunities and looks they were getting in the first. In the 80th minute Chapman was able to pull away one final time to score their 3rd goal of the day. Following this Chapman goal Whittier was not able to get any great looks in the final 10 minutes of the game and the Panthers would hold on to win by a final score of 3-1. 

Hitting a rough patch in their season, the Poets will look to turn things around next Saturday when they travel to Pasadena to take on CalTech. The Poets and the Beavers first game of the year ended in a 4-4 tie a couple weeks ago, so Whittier is looking to win this game and the season series against CalTech. This game will take place at 11:00.