Scored Upon, But Still Unbeaten: CMS Men's Soccer Comes Back for 2-1 Win at Chapman

ORANGE, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's soccer team gave up its first goal of the season midway through the second half after eight straight shutouts, but quickly answered and went on to take a 2-1 overtime win over Chapman on Wednesday afternoon.

Junior midfielder Luke Scanlan had the tying goal for the Stags less than two minutes after Chapman scored to tie it, and an own goal less than four minutes into overtime proved to be the difference, as CMS improves to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the SCIAC with the win. Chapman suffers just its second league loss as it falls to 4-2 in SCIAC play with the defeat. 

The game-winner came early in the overtime session as CMS was awarded a corner kick. Sophomore defender William Birchard took it, and bent it into the middle of the Chapman penalty area, where it deflected off a defender and over the line to give the Stags the 2-1 win just 3:45 into extra time. 

CMS had to come from behind for the first time this season after allowing a goal in the 66th minute. Moments after freshman goalie Jacob Mays made his first save of the game, a diving stop to his left, Chapman broke the scoreless tie after the Stags cleared the ensuing corner kick. Javier Bernaldo got the ball outside the left edge of the penalty area, and bent a cross to the top of the six-yard box, where Jarod Matteoni headed it home to put the Panthers up 1-0 with 24:53 left. 

The goal was the first allowed by the Stags all season, as they came into the game with eight consecutive shutout wins to start the 2018-19 campaign. The shutout streak lasted 785 minutes this season, and 921 minutes dating back to last year, when they ended the season with a 3-0 win over La Verne. The eight straight shutouts broke the previous single-season mark of seven in a row, first set in 1988 and matched in 2004.

If there was a question as to how the Stags might respond to allowing their first goal of the 2018-19 campaign, it was quickly answered as they took just 1:48 to find the equalizer. Junior Luke Scanlan converted as he stole the ball in the Chapman defensive third and fired one home from distance to get the Stags level at 1-1 with 23:05 on the clock. 

CMS had a great chance to win in regulation, as sophomore Nate Huntington had an initial shot saved, and the rebound fell to freshman Ethan Tyng from 10 yards out, but Tyng had his shot saved off the line by a defender with just under eight minutes remaining.

The Stags, who moved up to No. 17 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll released yesterday, extended their winning streak to 10 games dating back to last season and remain the only unbeaten team in SCIAC play so far this fall. 

CMS will be back in action at home this Saturday night, when it welcomes in Occidental for a 7 p.m. contest at Pritzlaff Field.