Three second-half goals pace Chapman following layoff
ORANGE, Calif. – Shaking off the rust from an 11-day layoff between games, the Chapman University men's soccer team scored three second-half goals to defeat visiting Berry College (Ga.) at Wilson Field on Monday night in physical affair that included 11 cautions and three ejections.
Despite an 8-2 shots advantage by Chapman (7-3-1) in the first half, the game remained scoreless at the break. With just 20 seconds remaining in the period, a heated exchange between the two sides led to a pair of red cards being issued – one to Chapman F Nick Echeverry and one to Berry GK Kevin Madigan. Madigan recorded four saves while holding the Panthers scoreless before leaving the game.
In the second half, the Panthers took advantage of Berry's backup GK Andrew Ryndak, who was seeing his first game action of the season. Chapman snapped the scoreless tie just 5 minutes into the second half when junior F Mauricio Alfonso turned and hooked a left-footer around the Berry defense and into the bottom-right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead. It was Alfonso's seventh goal of the season – a new career-high – and team-leading 18th point.
Ten minutes later Chapman struck again with a goal from junior F Colin Heim in the 60th minute on a shot from the top of the 18-meter box, putting the Panthers up 2-0. However, Heim then picked up a red card for unsporting behavior and Chapman was forced to play the final 30 minutes one man down.
The Panthers' defense came up big in the final 30 minutes as the Vikings added offensive pressure capitalizing on the out-numbered advantage. Berry (3-5-2) took all nine of its second-half shots after the Panthers' second ejection, out-shooting Chapman 9-3 in that span and forcing Panthers' senior GK Jimmy Adranly to make three of his six saves in the game.
Adranly earned his fourth shutout of the season and improved his win-loss record to 6-2 this season.
Chapman added one final goal – short-handed – in the closing seconds of the game as sophomore MF Nick Velasquez netted his first goal of the season. Junior MF Brent Hellesen assisted on each of the Panthers' final two goals.
The Panthers improved to 5-1-1 at Wilson Field this season including five shutouts. Chapman now will hit the road for its next five contests, including a trip to Wisconsin, before returning home for its final two regular season games.
