Chapman soccer is setting the tone in SCIAC

Photo by Easton Clark, Photo Editor

Four conference games into the 2025 season, the Chapman men’s soccer team finds itself atop the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings. With a 3-0-1 record, the team is hoping to capitalize on their early success and continue to assert their dominance.

Conference play started on Sept. 17 against Caltech, where the Panthers edged out a 2-1 win thanks to game-sealing goal by freshman business major Oliver Adams in the final two minutes. Chapman went on to beat University of La Verne on Sept. 20 and California Lutheran University on Sept. 24, both by a score of 2-1. This past Saturday, the team tied Whittier College 0-0. 

Sophomore business administration major Evan White, who currently leads the team with four goals, said he sees talent and potential in this year’s roster.

“We have a lot of guys that are really tactically sound. We have a lot of athletic guys. We have a lot of guys that all they know is putting it in the back of the net,” White said. “We're going to be destined for great things.”

It wasn’t immediate success for the Panthers, though. The team struggled to move the ball around in their initial non-conference games early in the season. But recently, Adams said the team has become more disciplined. 

“In the first couple games, we never really had possession of the ball. We kind of just kicked it long every time,” Adams said. “In recent games, we've passed it around our team. We've kept it. We've made the other team chase the ball. That only helps us, because it means that we're running less and they're running more.” 

In their final game before SCIAC play began, Chapman lost 1-0 to La Verne University — it was not an official conference game, even though La Verne is a SCIAC opponent. This gave the Panthers an opportunity to adjust their defense and correct any mistakes for their rematch in the official conference game ten days later.

“Last time when we played them, we gave them at least five to 10 yards every single time to get the ball,” Adams said. “This time there was a yard between him and our defender, and so we just got super tight to their players.”

Photo by Easton Clark, Photo Editor

The highlight of Chapman’s conference game against La Verne came from senior psychology major Wesley Jackson, who had an impressive score in the second half almost 30 yards out from the goal.

“I went to the top of the box, just in case something popped out. Then it came to my chest, and I was just like, ‘I'm hitting it, no matter what,’” Jackson said. “I looked up and I was just like, ‘Is that really going in?’ And then I just blacked out. Right when it hit the back of the net, I was like, ‘Oh my god, that just went in.’ It was pretty awesome.”

Chapman’s bench erupted immediately, rushing to meet Jackson in the corner and celebrate with their teammate. White recalled the score as one of the best he’s ever seen.

“Honestly, I thought it was a cross. But then I just see it go back in the net… one of the best goals I've ever witnessed in real time,” White said. “Definitely a great moment, going to the corner flag, celebrating with all the boys.”

This momentum carried into the next game against Cal Lutheran, with senior business administration major Marco Rodriguez and senior strategic and corporate communications major Dylan Paine scoring goals in the first half. The Panthers were unable to score in the following game against Whittier, but they shined defensively. Senior business administration major Alex Glynn notched six saves at goalie, and Chapman’s defense held Whittier scoreless. 

Jackson attributed the team’s success to their relentless effort and desire to compete at a higher level than their opponents.

“A lot of times, where we lack skill in some places, it’s made up by work rate,” Jackson said. “We want to run. We want to win more than other teams.”

White expanded on this idea, suggesting that what makes Chapman soccer unique is their depth. While players on opposing teams might feel secure in their starting roles, the Panthers know their spot is not guaranteed. They never grow complacent, always looking to prove themselves. 

“If you look at the standings this year, we're looking down on everyone, and that's for a reason. … there's no solidified spots in the starting 11,” White said. “Everyone's fighting to get more minutes … every other team in SCIAC should be fearing that, because if everyone's showing up on this team, there's going to be no one that can stop us.”

Next up for the Panthers is Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges tonight. Chapman lost to Claremont 5-1 in the SCIAC Tournament Championship last year, and as White suggests, the Panthers have “unfinished business.”

“They scored four goals on us in the first 25 minutes of the game,” White said, referring to last year's final matchup. “So this game is definitely not just going to be one of these regular games. We want to go out there and just absolutely crush them.”

White believes that Chapman’s identity this season is rooted in setting the tone and maintaining control. 

“A lot of the time last season, we would adjust to the play style of other teams,” White said. “But this year, another big point in practice is that we don't want to have to adjust to other teams. We want other teams to adjust to us. And that's sort of the makings of a championship team.”

It’s this mentality that will fuel a confident Chapman soccer through the rest of the season.

“If we play our game like we have been … I don't really see anyone as being beating us in the league,” Jackson said. “It's kind of ours to take.”