REDLANDS, Calif. – In a defensive Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opener, the University of Redlands Men's Soccer team (4-1, 1-0 SCIAC) edged Chapman University 1-0 at Farquhar Field thanks to a 79th- minute game-winner from Connor Claborn (Santa Clarita, CA).
The Bulldogs had a couple of corners and shot attempts in the first 18 minutes, but it was not until the 22nd when Zach Darmanyan (San Diego, CA) took a strike coming on a free kick, that just missed high as the ball hit the top netting.
For Chapman their best look all game came on a counterattack when they had a shot from the edge of the box, which beat Bulldog keeper Brady Bachman (San Diego, CA), but the ball would hit the post and stay out to keep the game scoreless until the half.
Anders Beckton (Seattle, WA) started the second half with a shot that forced a save out of the Panther keeper in the first two minutes.
That would be the lone attempt until the 76th and 77th minutes when Beckton again forced a save followed by Cody Bell (Highland, CA) missing a look high on a shot from the left side of the six-yard box.
Less than two minutes after the Bell miss, Claborn took advantage of a pass that hit off the goalie and rolled to him, which he would put away for the game winner.
In the last 12 minutes Redlands continued to push for a second goal, taking another six shots with one hitting the post from Beckton and Ryan Hubbard (Aliso Viejo, CA) forcing another save, but the Bulldogs would have to settle for a 1-0 victory.
It was a physical contest with 31 total fouls called and five yellow cards. The Bulldogs held the 16-6 shot advantage and an 8-1 corner kick edge.
Bachman earned the win playing all 90:00 minutes with two saves. Beckton and Phillip Kostenko (Redmond, WA) each had a game-high four shots.
Redlands will have a quick turnaround as they host UC Santa Cruz on Friday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. for their final non-conference game of the season.
