ORANGE, Calif. — The night belonged to Sienna Gomez as she stopped three consecutive penalty kicks to send the Chapman University women's soccer team into the SCIAC Semifinals. Chapman advanced over Occidental in the SCIAC First Round match on penalty kicks, 3-2.
The Panthers and Tigers played 110 minutes of scoreless soccer to send the first SCIAC Tournament match into the penalty kick round. Gomez made eight saves in the first 110 but it took over in penalty kicks.
After both teams made their first two attempts, Gomez stopped Oxy's third PK. She immediately stepped to the spot and beat her counterpart to kick Chapman the advantage.
That was the last PK to find the net as Gomez dove to her left to stop the next two and send the Panthers into the next round.
The match started with a PK after an early handball in the penalty area gave Chapman an opportunity to take an early lead. Melanie Rodriguez was equal to the task for Oxy. She made her first of seven saves on the night on that penalty to keep the match scoreless.
The Panthers advanced in the SCIAC Tournament for the first time since 2016, which also came after penalty kicks and an epic performance from goalkeeper Kristin Kleinow.
Chapman will travel up to top seed Cal Lutheran on Wednesday with match time set for 7 p.m.
