The fifth seeded Chapman men’s soccer advanced to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championship game, beating Redlands University Thursday night 4-2 on penalties after tying the match 1-1. They will travel to Claremont to face off against second seed Claremont-Mudd Scripps at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

After losing to Occidental College 4-0 in their final game of the regular season it seemed like the year was slipping away from the Panthers. They were given a chance, though, in the conference’s newly expanded tournament. As the fifth seed they would have to play an extra game and go on the road for every match, but Chapman has savored the challenge of being an underdog.

First, they traveled to Thousand Oaks to play California Lutheran University in the play-in game. In two games against the Kingsmen this season the Panthers had lost 2-0 and tied 1-1. They were down 1-0 at halftime of this game, but turned it around immediately to start the second. Senior business administration major Jonah Friang scored 27 seconds into the half, and 10 minutes later freshman business administration major Evan White put Chapman in the lead. It was symbolic of a team full of both new and longstanding players, and they never looked back pulling off the 2-1 win.

Their reward for moving on was an away match at Redlands. The number one seed had only lost twice before in conference play and had beaten Chapman 1-0 in the first SCIAC game of the season. The Bulldogs had seven players named to the SCIAC All-Conference teams, their coaching staff was awarded best in the conference and they swept the conference offensive and defensive player of the year awards. None of that mattered to the Panthers.

Junior business administration major Cormac Galvin headed Chapman into the lead before halftime, and they almost held on to the final whistle for the upset. Redlands scored with only seven seconds left on the clock in heartbreaking fashion to send the game to overtime. After two scoreless periods the game went to penalty kicks. That’s where junior goalkeeper Alex Glynn, a business administration major, shined. After being named to the All-SCIAC second team the day before he proved his worth coming up with a massive save to give Chapman the advantage. Freshman business finance major Reed Leidlein put his shot into the roof of the net, giving Chapman an upset for the ages and setting up one final game on the road.

Second seeded CMS beat Occidental 2-1, setting up an unprecedented championship game. Their only previous meeting with Chapman ended in a 3-0 win, but the Panthers have proven that the playoffs are an entirely different season. What matters most in a tournament is form and confidence. Chapman has that in bucket loads right now.

The fifth seed also has talented players who are playing their best soccer currently. Glynn recently won SCIAC athlete of the week and has made an astounding 14 saves in the playoffs so far, not including those in the shootout victory. Senior business finance major Jackson Busby was named to the All-SCIAC first team and has anchored the team as a captain this season. He is no stranger to the big moment. Two years ago, the last time Chapman was in the SCIAC championship, he scored a bicycle kick goal to defeat Occidental, win the tournament Most Valuable Player award and send his team to the NCAA Tournament. Now dubbed the “Busby Bicycle”, the defender has another chance to lift silverware for his team.

Other key players for Chapman include Friang who has a team-high five goals this season and freshman business management major Cooper Haley who leads the team with three assists. Senior business real estate major Garrett Lindfelt leads the team's high press, organizing his squad and putting opponents under duress. Sophomore business finance and accounting double major Leo Wells is one of the more creative members on the team and his ability on the ball constantly unlocks the opponent’s defense.

For CMS, sophomore forward James Gomez leads the line with five goals and seven assists on the season which earned him a spot on the All-SCIAC first team. His teammates junior Shaan Malik (defender) and senior Rafael Otero (midfielder) were also named to the first team, and junior John Laidlaw (forward) was named to the second. To reverse fortunes from their 3-0 loss to CMS, Chapman will have to break down a defense which has only allowed 22 goals in 19 games. Glynn will need to continue making big saves as well, as CMS has scored 40 goals on the year.

Head coach Eddie Carillo has led Chapman to eight NCAA tournament appearances and two SCIAC tournament championships in almost three decades at the school. As the Panthers head into their second championship game in three years, Carillo’s experience and guidance has put them in a spot to complete an unthinkable run to the trophy.

Chapman has already completed two upsets. What’s one more?