Chapin Girls Soccer Falls In OT In 5AD2 State Championship Match
By WORTHY EVANS
Contributing Writer
Chapin’s girls soccer team came close to winning the 5A Division 2 state championship at Columbia’s Memorial Stadium May 24, but Eastside punched in a tiebreaking goal in the overtime period to win 3-2 and claim its third straight state championship.
All State senior Payton Nutzman scored two goals, including the game winner. Senior Camille Carter also scored for the Eastside.
“We knew Eastside was a good team, we knew their No.9 (Nutzman) was a really good player,” head coach Chad Bridges said. “We had a game plan to stop her and for the most part I thought we were effective.”
Sophomore Mayson Donahue put Chapin on the scoreboard in the 17th minute of action to give Chapin a 1-0 lead. The Eagles took that lead into halftime.
Eastside got goals from Nutzman and Carter to take a 2-1 lead in the second half, but Chapin senior Kat Hagler came through with a goal in the 71st minute to tie the game 2-2.
Nutzman’s overtime goal was unanswered, and Chapin finished as the 5A Division 2 runner-up.
“We had a lead at halftime and they came back and answered,” Bridges said. “We had some good chances but came out a little short in overtime. I’m disappointed in our seniors, but we had a great season. I just hate for them that they didn’t get over the line and finish it. It doesn’t take away what we accomplished and a great season that we had, and Eastside’s a great program, it’s the fourth year in a row that they’ve been here. We’ll continue to get better, continue to grow, we’ve been back now twice, and we’ll see if we can bet back again next year.”
Chapin’s boys soccer team (18-6, 10-0) also went far in the playoffs. The Eagles claimed the Region 4-5A championship, and after a first-round bye in the 5A Division 2 playoffs, the Eagles Beat Socastee 8-0 May 10, and Myrtle Beach 1-0 May 14.
Eight Chapin players racked up goals against Socastee: seniors Jalen Tucker, Brayden Sipe, Dylan Kingsley, and Nick Brown; juniors Lucas Rogers and Eli Vance; sophomore Sean McNeil and freshman Landon Brown. Rogers scored the team’s only goal against Myrtle Beach.
Chapin fell 3-2 to Lucy Beckham in the lower state final May 17. In that game the Eagles got goals from Sipe and Rogers. Rogers had an assist, as well as Brown and Vance.
Chapin baseball (18-7) finished 6-4 in a hotly competitive Region 4-5A, but received a No.3 seeding in the 5A Division 2 playoffs and a first-round bye in the District 4 tournament.
The Eagles beat Lucy Beckham 8-7 in the second round May 10, but fell 6-4 to Florence in the third round May 15. Chapin ended the season with 3-2 loss to Lucy Beckham May 17.
Senior and Spartanburg Methodist signee Ty Harper led the team in batting with a .373 average. Junior Weston Plotner hit .361 and junior Felix Flecha-Ruiz hit .357. Senior and Troy signee Caden Reeves led the team in home runs with three, on top of a .305 batting average.
Chapin softball (13-11) finished second in the region at 7-3 and a No.4 seeding in the state playoffs. The Eagles got a first-round bye in the District 3 tournament and beat North Myrtle Beach 9-6 in eight innings May 7. They fell 6-0 to Berkeley May 9 and ended the season with a 6-5 loss to the Chiefs May 12.
