After Wake-Up Call, Cal Lutheran Rolls

Chapman University scored early, but Cal Lutheran converted just often enough to defeat the Panthers, 2-1, in a first-round game of the NCAA Division III West regional women’s soccer playoffs Wednesday at Cal Lutheran.

The Regals rallied after Chapman’s Jennifer Borrell scored in the third minute.

“That definitely motivated us,” Cal Lutheran goalkeeper Kim Nelli said. “After that, we said, ‘The ball is not coming out of their end of the field anymore.’ ”

The Regals (15-6), who play Saturday at UC San Diego in a West regional semifinal, chased down free balls, won balls out of the air and intercepted passes repeatedly to keep the Panthers (13-5) pinned in their own territory for most of the game.

“They had the ball on our half of the field for the whole first half it seemed like,” said Borrell, whose goal was only her second this season.

Cal Lutheran’s efforts paid off when Alia Khan converted the game-winner on a 17-yard shot after taking a centering pass from Ashley Scott and drawing Chapman goalkeeper Briana Benson out of position in the 70th minute.

Benson wasn’t the only goalie caught out of position.

Chapman’s goal came when Borrell intercepted a pass from sweeper Lisa McCreary to Nelli, who watched helplessly as the ball rolled past her.

It was the last mistake Cal Lutheran’s defense made.

“We did our best,” Borrell said. “But then they scored and kept up the pressure, and it’s hard for a team to come back like that.”

At least it was for Chapman, a defensive team that relied all season on starting goalkeeper Catherine Currie, sweeper Kristine Hoback and stopper Courtney Hall. The Panthers had allowed just 12 goals going into the game, and they had beaten Cal Lutheran, 1-0, in a regular-season match Sept. 20.

The Regals tied the score, 1-1, in the 41st minute on a goal by Holly Martin, who converted a rebound from the goalbox after a shot by Leilani Green ricocheted off Cal Lutheran’s Jessica Adams.

Currie (10 saves) left the game in the 69th minute after being accidentally kicked in the head by Cal Lutheran forward Alix Rucinski as both converged on the ball. Currie, a junior with 11 shutouts this season, never lost consciousness but was held out as a precaution.

Khan scored the decisive goal less than two minutes after Currie’s departure.