Heartbreak on penalty kicks ends promising men’s soccer season

Photo by Annie Gelfer, Staff Photographer

110 grueling minutes. That is what stood between Chapman men’s soccer and the end of their season. 

The Panthers had 24 shot attempts the whole game — the most they had this season by far — but the score remained 0-0 after two overtime periods. Penalty kicks (PKs) were all that was left. Chapman makes one. La Verne makes the next. Seven more times each team answers the other. Until finally, La Verne’s goalie saves one. 110 minutes of scoreless play — and in what felt like a second, the scoreboard read 8-7, La Verne. Season over.

On Nov. 4 at Ernie Chapman Stadium, the first round of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (SCIAC) playoffs became a physical and tense matchup. The Panthers allowed no goals and had more shot attempts than any other game this season, but the outcome didn’t match the exceptional performance. 

Senior defender and business administration major Cormac Galvin said Chapman outplayed them most of the game, but PKs can be a coin toss. 

“We just couldn't finish our chances,” Galvin said. “We outshot them both on-target and off-target. And really, when it comes to PKs, it's just out of luck. I think that they got lucky there, but I think if we had 20 more minutes, then we would have beat them.”

With penalties, it’s a guessing game for the goalie. Unfortunately for senior goalie and business administration major Alex Glynn, Galvin said La Verne’s PKs were a serious challenge.

“They were great PK takers,” Galvin said. “I mean, they put it right in the corner every time. And there really wasn't much that (Glynn) could do.”

Sophomore business finance major Reed Leidlein highlighted Glynn’s play throughout the season, crediting him as a key factor for the team’s success.

“He’s the reason we were where we were in the playoffs,” Leidlein said. “He had so many great penalty saves throughout the season, saves in general. And he did the same against La Verne, no goals again, clean sheet. We feed off him… (he’s) the reason we are here in this situation.”

Glynn earned a spot on the All-SCIAC Second Team for his performance this season, and Galvin was named to the All-SCIAC First Team. But standouts like these on the defensive end only underscore how close Chapman was to avoiding penalties and moving on in the tournament.

Photo by Annie Gelfer, Staff Photographer

In a game where the Panthers played so well through two overtime periods, it's hard to reconcile with such a heartbreaking loss. Twenty-four shot attempts is an impressive feat, and it would usually elicit at least one score. But Leidlein suggested their inability to put the ball in the net was largely due to La Verne's goalie. 

“We had a bunch of good shots on target, some good volleys, headers… we weren't short on chances,” Leidlein said. “It had to have been the goalie. He had a great game. And that was the unfortunate part, because we were getting shots, we were getting an opportunity. We just couldn’t score.”

With so many missed opportunities, and two overtime periods played, the team was exhausted. Leidlein said the toll of playing for 110 minutes was obvious, but that the Panthers continued to control the match despite these struggles.

“We were running up and down, left and right. So we were all gassed. By the second overtime, some guys were throwing up. I was struggling. I couldn't really hold it up,” Leidlein said. “It sucks that it came down to penalties… we knew we dominated them and kind of controlled the game for most of it.”

It was a long season for the Panthers, and it didn’t end how they had hoped. After making the SCIAC Championship last season, and starting this year undefeated in conference play, it was an unfortunate ending for Chapman. But Galvin said he will look back on this season proud of what the team accomplished.

“I'm going to remember the guys that stepped up, especially younger kids. They had to fill some pretty serious roles in order for us to do well this season, so I'm excited to see what they do going forward,” Galvin said. “Looking back, (I’m) just proud of the work that everyone put in.”

Looking toward next season, Leidlein said there are big shoes to fill. But those same young guys Galvin mentioned will have to step up yet again — this time, without the help of their senior players. 

“The senior class was big this year. They all played their role, and learning from them has been amazing these last two seasons,” Leidlein said. “Some of those voids are going to be hard to fill next year, which sucks, but I know we have the talent to do it, and I'm excited to see what comes from it.”