Photo by Shira Oneal-Abend

Story by Nathan Rodriguez, Sports Information Student Assistant

LA VERNE, CA — An 83rd minute goal proved to be the difference-maker in the University of La Verne Leopards women's soccer 3-2 loss to the visiting Chapman Panthers on Saturday evening. 

The Leopards suffered their third SCIAC loss at the feet of Chapman's senior midfielder Riley Pritchard who broke a 2-2 tie for her team-leading fourth goal with seven minutes remaining in regulation. Her fellow senior teammate, forward Anna Montemor, served a swift assist near the middle of the penalty box for Pritchard to stun the defense. 

The Leopards competed with high intensity in their match against the Panthers. La Verne managed to pressure the Chapman defense early with four shots until sophomore midfielder Leila Mukaigawa notched a goal, good for her first of the season to put the Panthers ahead 1-0 in the 24th minute.

Two minutes later, La Verne sophomore midfielder Brianna Wong took advantage of an opportunity in front of the goal, corralling a deflected ball and chipping a shot past the diving Chapman keeper to equalize the score and record her own first goal of the campaign. The match was full of firsts and would only stay even at 1-1 for another two minutes when Chapman's sophomore midfielder Ashley Wielenga tallied her season's first goal in the 28th minute to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.

The Leopards entered halftime trailing but erased the deficit in their first possession of the game's second half when junior midfielder Michelle Benavides tucked a left-footed grounder into the bottom nearside of the net to tie the score again, 2-2. The shot that snuck by Chapman's senior goalkeeper Kelsey Bland was Benavides' first goal of the season.

Bland battled against the Leopards' sophomore goalkeeper Evelyn Saldivar all night, who earned her first start of the season after a strong second half effort against the Sagehens. It was the seasoned veteran earning the victory in this one, matching Saldivar with five saves but ultimately preventing one less shot from crossing the goal line to hand the Leopards their second consecutive loss.

The Leopards fall to 1-7 overall after Saturday's finish, bringing their SCIAC record to 1-3.

Next Game

La Verne looks to turn the page when they travel to Occidental College in Los Angeles next Saturday, October 2 at 7 p.m.