Women's Soccer beats Chapman at home

Women's Soccer beats Chapman at home

LA VERNE, Calif. — Jessica Hernandez gave the Leopards the early lead and the University of La Verne women's soccer team never looked back, beating the Chapman Panthers 3-2 at Ortmayer Stadium.

Hernandez leads the SCIAC in both points with 16 and goals with 7.

After a corner kick by Hannah Leone was fended off by the Chapman defense, Leone gathered the ball near the sideline and crossed the ball into the box. Hernandez out jumped the defense and headed the ball into the goal for the 1-0 lead just six minutes into the game.

Chapman evened the game in the 34th minute when Bailee Cochran sent a long shot into the box from the right side. Leopard keeper Hanien Samara made a nice diving save, but couldn't gather the ball, and a trailing Hannah Holden tapped the ball in for the equalizer. 

La Verne jumped back on top seven minutes later when Ari Dowell gathered the ball 20 yards out and drilled a shot to the top right corner of the net to give La Verne back the lead, sending them into the break up 2-1.

Less than five into the second half, Catherina Posada won a ball on the left side of the box and slid a pass to Lauran Redding who tapped it in for the insurance goal.

Hernandez nearly added a second goal when she connected on a bicycle kick that Chapman keeper Maeve O'Connor was just able to punch over the net.

The Panthers cut the deficit to one on goal by Morgan Lynch with just over two minutes to play but would get no closer.

Samara finished the game with seven saves.

Season Impact: The Leopards improve to 7-2-2 overall and 3-2-2 in SCIAC play. Chapman drops to 6-5 overall and 2-5 in the conference.

Next Game:  The Leopards head down the road to face the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas this Saturday at 7 p.m.