Second Half's The Charm as CMS Women's Soccer Edges Chapman 1-0

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's soccer team responded after a tough first half to seize momentum after halftime and take a 1-0 win over Chapman on Wednesday evening at Pritzlaff Field.

Junior Rhiann Holman scored the game's only goal in the 64th minute when she followed up a rebound after a shot from junior Kira Favakeh was saved and finished from just inside the top of the six-yard box. The win improves the CMS record to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the SCIAC, while Chapman falls to 5-6 overall and 2-4 in league play. 

The Athenas were able to flip the script after a first half which saw Chapman hold a 12-1 edge in shot attempts. Sophomore goalie Claire Hamson made five saves in the first half to keep the game scoreless, including one that she tipped off the crossbar off the foot of Shelby Brown in the 11th minute. |



After surviving the first half unscathed, the intermission was a chance for the team to regroup, and senior center back Catherine Leon, one of the team co-captains, felt that the Athenas made good use of that time. 

"We really talked about getting those 50-50s," Leon said. "Going after those second balls, and really connecting in transition out to get our offense going forward."

The second half saw CMS come out with renewed energy, getting off three shots in the first three minutes, earning a corner kick after one of them was blocked. The Athenas then forced Chapman goalie Kelsey Bland to make five saves in a span of 5:25, with the fifth one resulting in a rebound that Holman was able to beat everyone to and finish for her seventh goal of the season.

"That was a complete effort goal," said Leon. "We are a team that prides itself on being first to the ball, and making that extra effort, and this time it led to a goal."

After taking the lead, the Athenas locked in and limited Chapman's chances the rest of the way. The only shot attempt the Panthers had in the last 25 minutes was a long-distance effort from defender Elle Uyeda in the 89th minute that Hamson watched drift harmlessly wide left. 

Chapman finished with an 18-14 edge in shots, but the Athenas had a 13-6 edge in the decisive second half. Hamson finished with nine saves to get her fifth shutout of the season, doing most of her must difficult work in the first half.  

"Cam's always clutch," Leon said. "You can count on her to make the saves she needs to and some of the ones that maybe she shouldn't. It's huge having her back there."

CMS will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to Occidental for a 7 p.m. contest.