THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Cal Lutheran men's soccer team dug themselves too deep of a whole to climb out of in the final game of the year and eventually fell 2-1 to Chapman on Saturday at Rolland Stadium on Senior Night.
The Kingsmen came out of the gate with all of their seniors in the starting lineup and looked to upset Chapman to finish off their season.
Thiago Gaglianone got off the first shot of the game for either team in the 4th minute but was denied by the Chapman keeper.
After the Violet and Gold lost their opening momentum, Chapman took advantage. In the 32nd minute, Jake Sarmiento scored for the Panthers, on the assist from Cole Peters, to give them the 1-0 lead.
At the half, both teams were even with three shots apiece in a night where shots were few and far between.
Early on in the second half, Chapman was pressing yet again and they came through with a goal in the 53rd minute from Boston Kimmel who worked his own shot and fired it in to the back of the net.
Down 2-0, CLU would not go down without a fight. Nick Baldi shot a screamer past the defense that zoomed past the goalie's outstretched arms for a goal in the 77th minute. For Baldi, the goal is his fourth of the year placing him second on the team behind Zack Larson who has 10.
Larson tried to make it 11 goals just a minute later in the game when he sped past his defender and took a difficult shot but a makeable one for him. The ball hit off the lower left post and somehow stayed out to keep the Kingsmen trailing by one goal.
Both teams were attacking hard in a fierce contest that saw 50 fouls and six yellow cards.
Overall, Chapman outshot CLU 9-6 including 6-3 in the second half, and they held a slight edge in corners 3-2. Larson led the Kingsmen with two shots, while Baldi, Gaglianone, Tyler Pascoe, and Nathan Davidson all had one in the game.
Cal Lutheran (5-10-4, 4-9-3 SCIAC) will finish the season 7th in the conference. Prior to the game, Pascoe, Gaglianone, Eric Patyk, Julian Hernandez, Matt Hubbard, Alex Wardle, and Jorge Galvan were honored as they played their final game for the Kingsmen.
Box Score: CU 2, CLU 1
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