ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's lacrosse team rolled past the visiting Whittier College Poets 19-8 earlier this evening. Junior Alexandra Callaway and freshman Vanessa Topete led the Panthers, scoring four goals apiece in the effort.

Callaway scored the first goal of the match less than two minutes in to give Chapman an early 1-0 lead, followed by a goal from Whittier's Lexie Meanor. The next 14 minutes were all Panther action as Chapman went on a 9-0 run to take a 10-1 lead with eight minutes left to play in the half.

Meanor scored again to cut the Poets' deficit, but junior Lucy Schwartz answered with her only goal of the match. The two sides exchanged goals for the next five minutes, bringing the score to 13-5 heading into halftime.

The Panthers burst out of halftime, scoring back-to-back-to-back goals in the first four minutes to charge to an 11-goal lead. Whittier senior Emily Hansen responded with a pair of goals within two minutes of each other, but Callaway, senior Danielle Zahn and sophomore Gaby Bechwati each scored to end the half and bring Chapman to .500 on the season.

Zahn scored a hat trick in the win, followed by freshman Meg Hanson who scored a brace. Sophomore Cami Goldsberry was dishing all night, tallying three assists that came consecutively in the first half.

Chapman held strong in the defensive half, causing 14 turnovers while picking up 51 ground balls. Zahn led the pack with four caused turnovers, seven ground balls and seven draw controls. Goldsberry, senior Shelby Thompson and junior Leah Donnelly each picked up four ground balls in the effort.

Sophomore Preetha Raj played the first half in the cage, recording three saves. Sophomore Taylor Hextrum took over in the second half, tallying four saves in her first match this season.

The Panthers return to Wilson Field on Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m. for their final home game of the regular season. The team will honor seniors Zahn, Thompson and Schwartz as they host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

by Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

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