WHITTIER, Calif. – Poets men's soccer took the field and came out victorious against the Chapman Panthers on Saturday night. Whittier's
Kevin Bravo provided the match's only goal in the 25th minute. Goalkeeper
Diego Saldivar also secured the shutout with three saves. His final save came on a point-blank chance for the Panthers that would have tied the match.
The Poets entered the match coming off a 1-1 tie against a formidable Occidental side, while Chapman was coming off a 4-3 thriller against the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen.
Within the first five minutes of the contest, Whittier created two scoring opportunities.
Fabian Gluch hit the crossbar, followed by
Nicholas Coop, who tested the Panthers' goalkeeper early with a shot on goal. A few minutes later, Chapman recorded its first shot.
Coop placed another shot on target in the 25th minute, once again forcing a save. The Poets were knocking on the door and finally broke through seconds after Coop's attempt.
Guillermo Ramirez played a pass off a one-two to Bravo at the top of the box. Bravo drove past a couple of Chapman defenders and fired a missile into the top right corner that found the back of the net. Whittier had found its goal and led 1-0.
Saldivar denied the Panthers in the 32nd minute as they tried to level the score.
Both teams recorded five shots in the first half, but Bravo's stunner was the difference.
Patrick Nolan tried his luck four minutes into the second half, but his shot sailed wide right. Moments later, two Chapman shots missed the frame.
The Poets took five more shots, three from Coop, as they looked to seal the match. The Panthers attempted three more shots before the 87th minute.
Chapman countered the Poets and had numbers in the box. A cross was whipped into the middle to a wide-open Panther. The ensuing shot came from the top of the six-yard box and was directed toward the center of the goal. It seemed as if the Panthers had found their equalizer, but Saldivar made a kick save with his left foot and deflected the ball wide. His save was as important as a goal.
Whittier secured a 1-0 win and improved to 3-1-5 overall and 2-0-1 in SCIAC play. The Poets were tied for first in the conference following the victory.
Men's soccer will hit the road to face the La Verne Leopards on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. Catch all the action on
FloCollege.
Follow and show support for your Whittier Poets on Twitter (@WCPoets), YouTube and Instagram (@PoetAthletics).
