Yamada Scores as Caltech Women’s Soccer Earns Shutout Win Over Chapman – Pasadena Now

The Caltech women's soccer team defeated the Chapman University Panthers on Wednesday, 1-0, in a late afternoon duel at North Field.

Sophomore midfielder Ellie Yamada (South Pasadena, Calif. / South Pasadena) scored the game's lone goal in the 87th minute to give the Beavers their third victory and first shutout win of the season.

Yamada found the back of the net following a corner kick from junior defender Meher Banik (Foster City, Calif. / Aragon), who fired the ball towards junior defender Kyla Cook (Oakland, Calif. / Athenian) near the close top-corner of the penalty area. The ball traveled past Cook towards Yamada who pounced on it at the top of the box, firing a shot on goal; a Chapman defender blocked the shot, though the ball bounced right back to Yamada, who immediately rocketed another shot from a few steps inside the box and delivered it into the right corner of the net for the score.

The midfielder's goal was the first of her career and the team's 12th of the season.

The team played exceptionally well on defense as they held an opponent scoreless for the first time this fall. Sophomore goalkeeper Haleigh Gardner (San Ramon, Calif. / California HS) was perfect in net with nine saves, while the back four of Banik, Cook, rookie Anusha Chatha (San Diego / Canyon Crest Academy) and senior Katherine Marquis (Tewksbury, Mass. / Phillips Academy Andover) played a critical role in stealing the ball and forcing the Panthers into difficult spots and off-target shots.

Senior forward Jennifer Solgaard (Palo Alto, Calif. / Palo Alto) delievered two shots on goal in the game, but both were denied by the Chapman keeper. Banik fired an on-target shot in the first half that was saved; Cook and senior midfielder Juni Polansky (Baltimore, Md. / Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) logged one shot apiece.

The win marks Caltech's second over a SCIAC opponent this season, tying the young program's all-time record from 2022. The Caltech women's soccer program was created in just 2017.

Head coach Emmy Meyring expressed joy with the team's decisions and persistence throughout the 90 minutes of action.

"Chapman came out strong and ready to play, [but] we did a great job staying calm and playing our game," said Meyring. "We showed our grit tonight with having a shutout and hitting the back of the net in the 87th minute. I'm proud of how hard our team works and very proud of how they competed tonight."