By Casey Gomez

Post-season for Chapman’s fall sports didn’t last long. Men’s soccer and women’s volleyball were both eliminated in the first round of playoffs this year, but neither team is left with a bitter taste.
On Saturday, men’s soccer lost 2-0 to Whitworth University in what was their first NCAA postseason appearance in 10 years. The game was pretty much over in the first half on a goal in the 7th minute, but the Panthers fought hard until the end.
Junior goalkeeper Tyler Hadzinsky, who had three saves in the game, said the team didn’t expect to make playoffs after its devastating loss to UC Santa Cruz and was pleasantly surprised when it was awarded a shot in the postseason.
“It hurt for a while,” Hadzinsky said. “I felt really bad for the seniors, I was hoping we could go further for them.”
With the soccer season over now, the team is looking forward to working hard in the off season and improving for another shot at playoffs next year.
“We have a lot of returners that now have some playoff experience, no matter how short,” Hadzinsky said.
Two days earlier on Nov. 12, the women’s volleyball team was eliminated from its NCAA Division III West Region championships with a three-set defeat (25-16, 25-8, 25-12) by Redlands.
Similar to the men’s soccer team, the volleyball women did not know if they would reach the playoffs this year. They got the lucky call just four days before they were scheduled to play and were ecstatic at the news, screaming “We made playoffs!” all across campus the morning after.
The Panthers were led by seniors Linda Ly, who had 18 digs, and Erin Leja, who finished with seven kills.
The team is losing four seniors, but next year’s young team should not be underestimated with 10 returners coming back with playoff experience under their spandex belts.

by Ryan Murray

Chapman’s first water polo game of the post-season is about to begin, following UC San Diego’s 14-13 win over Redlands in the Western Water Polo Association Championships. The No. 8 seeded Panthers will take on No. 1 seeded Loyola Marymount University.

It is a nice 70 degrees – not a cloud in the sky – and the stands are fuller than in recent memory. Looking forward to a good, clean game.

[Updated, 1:55 p.m.]
Is there a mercy rule in Water Polo? Chapman looks entirely mismatched, as LMU has been able to score at will. The Lions lead 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. Coach Ploessel is raising his voice quite audibly to his team.

[Updated, 2:11 p.m.]
Chapman has managed to slow the bleeding. LMU scored only once in the second quarter, thanks to some improved team defense and stellar play by the freshman goalie, Taylor Roszkos. The Panthers have yet to figure out the Lions’ defensive game. They look like they are playing against a brick wall, having only two shots anywhere close to scoring. It remains to be seen if Ploessel can help his guys with their scoring woes in the second half.

[Updated, 2:25 p.m.]
It’s been a rough game for the Panthers. LMU has been able to score again, and whatever Chapman thought it had figured out has gone out the window. The Lions’ defense has been locking down, most Chapman shots don’t even make it to the goalie for him to block. LMU leads Chapman 12-0 at the end of three.

[Updated, 2:43 p.m.]
Not a great game for the record books. Senior 2-meter defenseman Austin McElvaney, junior utility Matt Siordia and senior utility Alex Mulé all add goals in the fourth quarter to bring up the final score of 13-3.

By Matt Jekowsky

On Halloween night, I was the scariest thing imaginable. I was a New York Yankee in Philadelphia.

I had traveled all the way from Orange to haunt Citizens Bank Ball Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. It was game three of the World Series of baseball.

Despite boos, jeers, name-calling, peanut throwing and anything else the Phillies fans could muster, I strode into a Phillies restaurant and bar with my head held high.  Surrounded by a sea of red, I went up to ask how long the wait for a table was. I had three hours till the game started, and I was starving.  The hostess looked at me and flatly said, “About two hours for ya.”

There were yells of “Get outta here, Yankee” and “We don’t serve Yankee fans.” I tried my best to ignore them, but the fans in Philadelphia are relentless and merciless.

I turned around and decided to find my seat. Throughout the stadium there were chants of “Yankees suck” and “Who’s your daddy?” whenever that old-time Yankee nemesis Pedro Martinez, took to the mound.  Yet, whenever I spotted a “NY” emblem, I knew a friendly high five was coming.

If was a full 90 minutes before the game started, due to a rain delay, and when they threw the first pitch, everyone was on their feet.

As it was now becoming a theme in this year’s epic World Series, the Phillies struck first. Everyone sitting around us jumped out of their seats and was hugging, kissing and shaking hands.  Then they would look back and laugh, mock and sometimes even point and shout at me

But as Halloween night progressed, along with the cold, crisp air, the Yankees charged in. After a clutch pinch-hit home run by Hideki Matsui, it was my turn to yell and scream. I turned from laughing stock, to worst nightmare.

I left that night feeling part of the Yankee team, not because they won the game, but because I stuck with them, through the good times and the bad. 

by Ryan Murray

It’s a cool 59 degrees in Orange tonight as the 6-1 University of Redlands takes on the 3-4 Chapman Panthers at Ernie Chapman Stadium. It’s a little foggy out, and it seems colder than it is. Regardless, the Panthers aim to get back to a .500 record, and the Bulldogs, whose only loss came at the hands of Occidental, look to close in on a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletics Conference championship. It is Senior Night, so an extra amount of emotion might be a factor.

[Updated, 7:36 p.m.]
The Bulldogs struck first, with the Panthers’ defense holding them to a field goal. But in Chapman’s first possession, sophomore quarterback Blake Vanderweil threw a pick and Redlands capitalized, scoring a touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 10-0. The Panthers can’t run the ball against the much larger Bulldog line.

[Updated, 8:17 p.m.]
Chapman has found some rhythm offensively, and Vanderweil pounds in a touchdown from a few yards out. Redlands leads 10-7. The Bulldogs are held to a field goal to go on top 13-7. Chapman is driving again, but sophomore kicker Jimmy Adranly’s kick is blocked and recovered by Redlands. The Bulldogs drive deep into Chapman territory before a bad snap is fumbled and scooped up by #56 Andrew Carcova and returned to about midfield. Vanderweil throws some bombs down the field, but it bears no result. Redlands still leads going into the half, 13-7.

[Updated, 9:14 p.m.]
The half opened on a good note for the Panthers, when sophomore running back Kevin Krail returned the kickoff for 91 yards and a first and goal. But the running game stalled and Vanderweil sailed a pass long, so Adranly was brought out. He sent his kick wide right and the Bulldogs took over on downs. One drive later, Redlands was on top 20-7. Adranly got another chance later and narrowed the gap to 20-10. The Chapman defense looks tired and frustrated, and Redlands is driving to close out the quarter.

[Updated, 9:52 p.m.]
Redlands pounded in an early touchdown to go up 27-10, and it began to look bleak for the Panthers. Adranly missed his second field goal, this time sending it wide left. The Bulldogs drove into Chapman territory. The Redlands quarterback, Dan Selway, lobbed up a floater that was picked off by junior defensive back Jake Meyer. After a long drive, Krail pounded it in, bringing the score to 27-17. Chapman recovered an onside kick, and junior wide receiver Chris Langstaff caught a fade from Vanderweil to narrow the gap to 27-24. But all good things must pass, and a second onside kick couldn’t be handled. Redlands sat on the ball to run out the clock. The Panthers fall to 3-5, while the Bulldogs improve to 7-1.

by Zach Buswold

The Panthers defeated Hope International Thursday night in three consecutive sets: 25-14, 25-19, 25-21. It was Senior Night for the Panthers and the final game of the season.

The atmosphere was just right, as the seniors were all introduced before the game and received flowers.

The game started off very even until junior outside hitter Kela Powers had a series of eight straight serves to put the Panthers up 15-11.

“One of our goals was to not miss crucial serves.” Powers said. “I wanted to be aggressive but I also wanted to stay accurate.”

The Panthers started the second game off on top taking a 14-9 lead before letting Hope slip back in and decrease the lead to 16-15. But the Panthers prevailed in the end thanks to more strong serving.

In the third game tension was high as the Panthers tried to finish off the match and Hope was trying to stay alive. The set stayed close all the way until the end and the Panthers finished the set 25-21 and defeated Hope to increase their record to 18-13 for the season.

by Ryan Murray

Today looks to be a good game, as the Panthers (12-11) take on the Cal Baptist Lancers (18-6) at Chapman. The Panthers are currently on a two game skid, dropping games to UCLA and Concordia. This comes after the Panthers reached their highest ranking ever at No. 2.

[Updated, 11:23 a.m.]
Some red hot offense by the Lancers was cooled down by some excellent play from senior goalie Colin Gasper. Sophomore utility Pierre Masson has two goals and senior 2-meter defenseman Austin McElvaney has one. However, the Lancers lead 5-3 as the Panthers continually look sluggish.

[Updated, 11:40 a.m.]
The Lancers still look tough, but their offense has been less potent. Chapman is finally getting some ideal matches though there have been some ejections for excessive celebration, and for getting physical. Frustration is running high, but the Lancers only lead 9-5.

[Updated, 12:01 p.m.]
Chapman has been stifled. Head Coach Eric Ploessel has put in some new players in an attempt to jumpstart the offense. It has worked minimally. The Lancers are up 15-8 and don’t appear to be ready to stop the offensive showcase.

[Updated, 12:17 p.m.]
Chapman couldn’t bounce back. Some bench players scored points in garbage minutes, but the Lancers prevailed, 16-10. With the loss, Chapman drops to 12-12 and the Lancers improve to 19-6.

At the end of the first quarter the score was tied 7-7. With eight minutes and 45 seconds left in the second quarter, the score is 14-7 in Cal Lutheran’s favor.

[Updated, 8:24 p.m.]
At the end of the first half, Chapman trails 14-10.

[Updated, 8:53 p.m.]
With 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Panthers trail 28-10.

[Updated, 9:19 p.m.]
At the end of the third quarter, Cal Lutheran widens the gap, now leading 35-13.

[Updated, 9:49 p.m.]
Cal Lutheran wins the game, 49-13.

by Casey Gomez

Chapman’s women’s soccer team faces the visiting La Verne Leopards tonight at 5 p.m. The Panthers are coming off a win on Sunday against Notre Dame de Namur with an 11-3 record. The Leopards are hoping to improve their 3-9-1 record tonight.

During pre-game warm ups, the Leopards seemed to be more vocal and enthusiastic than the Panthers, who looked strong but demure. The Panthers’ prowess is noticeably stronger than La Verne’s, but whether it’s the Leopards losing record or Chapman’s four-game winning streak that has them feeling overly confident, the Panthers cannot underestimate the Leopards who are pumped for tonight’s game.

[Updated, 5:26 p.m.]
La Verne gets on the scoreboard first in the 17th minute on a play by the Leopards’ senior forward Falisha Ramirez. Sophomore midfielder and defender Stasy Muratalla came up with the assist to Ramirez after the ball bounced off of a couple of Chapman defenders.

The Panthers have been dominating the game offensively and have had several impressive offensive attacks since La Verne’s goal. Nevertheless, the score remains 1-0 with 18:50 left in the first half.

The small Chapman crowd is frustrated by the Panthers’ inability to convert and several questionable calls by the referees. “Unlucky” seems to be the fans’ word of the day.

[Updated, 5:53 p.m.]
It is halftime and the score remains 1-0 to La Verne. Chapman has had many chances to score, but just like all season, the Panthers have failed to convert those chances into goals.

Chapman dominated the first half offensively and it will need to continue to do so in the second half if it wants to come back and win this game.

[Updated, 6:11 p.m.]
Ramirez does it again, scoring La Verne’s second goal of the game in the 52nd minute of play.

Ramirez broke past Chapman’s defenders one on one by sheer speed and scored a clean goal that sailed through Chapman sophomore goalkeeper Chloe Canta’s outstretched hands.

The score is now 2-0 with 35:20 in the second half.

[Updated, 6:41 p.m.]
Chapman is finally on the board in the 79th minute of play with a penalty kick by sophomore forward and midfielder Kate Lilly, bringing the score to 2-1. With 9:40 left in the game, the Panthers are feeling the pressure to win this game. The permanently standing Chapman bench, the screaming Chapman fans and the ticking clock all show the sense of urgency the Panthers are showing in the closing minutes of this game.

[Updated, 6:59 p.m.]
Despite some extremely exciting closing minutes and numerous close calls, Chapman lost tonight to La Verne, 2-1. The final five minutes of the game were extremely emotional, with the majority of the game’s yellow cards coming in the final minutes. Fans continued to question the referees’ judgment as the game became progressively more physical as Chapman made several aggressive runs on the Leopards’ defense.

Time was simply not on the Panthers’ side tonight and the unexpected loss comes as an emotional one. Lack of control early in the game and the inability to finish shots contributed to the Panthers’ loss, bringing their record to 11-4. The Panthers are looking to get back on track Friday at 3 p.m. when they host La Sierra at home.

By Zach Buswold

The curse has finally been exorcised.

For the first time since 1986 the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have defeated the Boston Red Sox in a playoff series and are back in the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2005.

Angel fans across campus who once doubted the talent of this team in the postseason, are now feeling strong about this year’s team.

“We could never beat those freakin’ Red Sox,” said freshman business major Kolton Kenyon. “But we finally did and now it’s time to play those Yankees.”

Fans all over campus are getting geared up and ready for the upcoming series against the Yankees which begins Friday, Oct. 16.

“I have my Gary Matthews Jr. jersey and a brand new hat,” said freshman business management major Christian Efseaff. “I bought myself a rally monkey, but hopefully I won’t have to use it too much in this series.”

The Angels have had major postseason success against the Yankees, defeating them in every postseason series in the last decade.

“I’m going to be home this weekend and I’m going to watch [the game] on my 66 inch T.V. with the surround sound blasting.” said Efseaff.

Others on campus are planning to watch the games in their dorm rooms with other fans and friends.

“I’m gonna have my fellow fans over to my room to watch the games.” said freshman business major Jordan Opel. “This is a big series, I mean, if we win this, we are World Series bound.”

If the Angels make the World Series, they have the potential to be one of only two teams along with the Red Sox to have a pair of World Series rings this decade.

By Ryan Murray

Twenty minutes until the Panthers kick-off against the Whittier Poets for Chapman’s Homecoming game, and the excitement is building. Ernie Chapman Stadium is almost full to capacity. It looks like a good night for some football.

[Update, 7:35 p.m.]
The weather has cooled, and so has Chapman’s offense. After starting the game with a quick 50-yard march down the field, it has been all Poets. A missed field goal by Jimmy Adranly, the hero of the Pomona-Pitzer game, has left the Panthers scoreless.

The defense has also looked sluggish, especially against the run. Chapman made a stand in the red zone, but relentless rushing by Whittier’s #23 Paul Schilling has put the Poets on top 7-0.

[Update, 8:04 p.m.]
The stadium is in overflow-seating mode, both visitor and home bleachers are stuffed with fans, and a make-shift barricade has been made at the north end of the stadium for standing room only.

Both offenses have stalled, and both pass defenses look sloppy. Adranly kicked a field goal to get the Panthers’ only points. Whittier leads 7-3.

[Update, 8:57 p.m.]
A squib kick led to the Poets starting at midfield, before stalling their drive and fumbling the ball. A huge pass to #4 Kaleo Perez is nearly fruitless as the offense is pushed back and Chapman settles for three off of Adranly’s leg.

Whittier drove quickly, before the Panther red-zone defense woke up. Brought the Poets to 4th down and #1 Steve Downs blocks the field goal attempt, causing a turnover on downs deep in Panther territory.

Panthers drive deep before an incompletion and two sacks lead to a fumble. The Poets capitalize quickly on a long pass to #3 Josh Ollison putting the Poets on top 14-6 to end the quarter.

[Update, 9:38 p.m.]
Chapman can’t move the ball, and both teams are grinding each other out. Whittier’s quarterback tucked it in for an easy 20-yard run and was never touched.

Chapman quarterback Eric Wilcockson tries to make a last-minute drive to salvage the game. Most of the crowd has thinned out. Wilcockson throws a pick, and that’ll do it.

Final score 21-6, Whittier Poets.