Shot saver, record breaker
Photo Courtesy of Chapman Athletics
Seventeen saves. The single-game Chapman women’s lacrosse record sat at 17 saves. That was before the team’s game against Pomona-Pitzer on April 11.
But after four quarters of action, Tara Stonemaker’s record was broken. Not by a seasoned veteran, but by a wily freshman. One who just transferred into Chapman this semester. The record now stands at 18 saves, held by goalkeeper Cam Gabrian.
Gabrian spoke about how she and fellow freshman goalie Madelyn Kuhnlein happened to be chatting about the record right before the game, during their warmups.
Gabrian said that after a “bad” warmup, she didn’t feel confident going into the high pressure game. Being the good teammate she is, Kuhnlein brought up the record with hopes to get Gabrian focused on a positive subject.
Once she found out the record was “only” 17 saves, Gabrian said she was immediately fired up, forgetting all about her warmup with her mind set on one goal: breaking that record.
By the end of the first half, Gabrian had already recorded 16 saves, putting her just one shy of tying the record and two away from breaking it.
After two more saves in the third quarter, the record was broken.
Photo Courtesy of Chapman Athletics
Cam Gabrian is no stranger to lacrosse, coming out of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, California. Gabrian originally committed to play lacrosse in New York for St. Thomas Aquinas College.
After just one semester, Gabrian realized what many college kids do: being away from your family is a lot harder than it seems. So after some tough decision-making and good recruiting by coach Delany Benson, Gabrian made her way back home to Southern California to play for the Panthers in her first collegiate season.
“It’s a division down, but I made the right decision. I’m from San Diego originally so one of the main reasons I wanted to transfer is because I was like ‘I cannot be this far from my family,’” Gabrian said.
Benson said that although Gabrian was a late add-on, she’s been nothing but a positive impact on the team.
“Cam’s been incredible,” she said. “I think she got her housing and application accepted the week before spring semester started, so I was squeezing her in at the end, but she was trying to find a home and I wanted to take her.”
In addition to playing in high school and college, Gabrian also played for Team Mexico in the 2024 World Lacrosse Championships in Hong Kong, alongside fellow Panther Angelina Welsh, a senior sociology major and Chapman captain.
When reflecting back on her time in Hong Kong, it was hard for Gabrian to put into words how much the experience meant to her.
“It was the best experience ever in my life,” Gabrian said. “Like yeah, whatever, we lost some games, but I don't even know how to explain it, it was the best experience of my life.”
Coming into Benson's program, Gabrian knew she would have to fight for a starting spot. She made a goal for herself to prove to her coach she was here to work hard and commit to the grind every day to earn herself a place on the field. By the first game of the season, she had done exactly that.
Benson spoke directly about Gabrian’s work ethic.
“She’s been such a joy to have on the team, she has such a great personality and she’s such a hard worker. She will put in the work off the field and on the field and brings the energy everyday, it’s definitely been great to have her.”
Gabrian said that the welcoming atmosphere of the team has made her transition to Chapman a lot easier.
“I’m always on my phone playing games, but when I’m with (my teammates) I don’t want to be on my phone,” she said. “I just want to be in the moment and I really appreciate that.”
In just a short few months at Chapman, Gabrian has found community — and her way into the record books. And with three more years ahead of her, this is only the beginning.