Injuries Add to Insult for Chapman

It isn’t enough that Chapman’s football team has to face its toughest schedule yet, but now the Panthers are doing it short-handed.

Last weekend, Coach Ken Visser’s team played without tight end David Vaccaro and punter Mario Acosta and lost, 40-6, to Willamette (Ore.), the ninth-ranked team in the NAIA.

Quarterback Greg Hyland, linebacker Keith Dykes and guard Matt Zaky--all starters--also exited the game early because of injuries.

The encouraging news is that Dykes, despite a sprained ankle, and Zaky, who had a minor knee injury, should be ready for today’s game at Hardin-Simmons in Abilene, Texas.

But Acosta (ankle), Hyland (shoulder) and Vaccaro (knee) are listed as probable. The game figures to be another tough test considering Hardin-Simmons (2-0) won on the road against Sul Ross State (Texas), 35-14, last week and Azusa Pacific, 28-14, Sept. 13.

Even before the season, Visser knew the Panthers would face severe tests early: “We’re going from the frying pan to the fire,” he said.

Next week, Chapman plays another game in Texas, traveling to play Howard Payne, Oct. 4. Chapman’s next home game is Oct. 11 against Menlo.

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Goals-a-plenty: The Southern California College women’s soccer team entered the week as the highest scoring team in the Golden State Athletic Conference. Through eight games, the Vanguards have 29 goals, 11 more than Biola, the conference’s second-highest scoring team.

SCC’s Jamie Gardiner has seven goals and three assists to enter the week as the conference’s leading scorer.

The Vanguards (7-2, 2-0) will face a big conference challenge today, when they plays at Azusa Pacific, which is ranked 14th in the NAIA.