California Baptist University
Azusa Pacific University (Calif.)
COUGARS DIG LONG BALL
10/4/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
This was supposed to be the year. This was supposed to be the day.
It's been 11 years and 18 games since California Baptist has beaten Azusa Pacific, and at least for one more game, the streak continues.
Azusa Pacific, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, scored a pair of second half goals, including the game-winner in the 87th minute to complete its come-from-behind 2-1 win over No. 9 California Baptist Wednesday afternoon in
The loss snaps the Lancers' 4-game winning streak and drops them 8-2 overall, 2-1 GSAC. The Cougars, meanwhile, who were coming off a 1-0 loss at No. 12 Westmont Saturday, improve to 8-1, 2-1. The Lancers winless streak against the Cougars now reaches 19 games (0-18-1), dating back to 1995.
The Lancers came out ready to go toe-to-toe with the Cougars and were ready to justify their first top 10 ranking since 2003 through an evenly played first half. Less than 2 hours prior to kickoff, the Lancers climbed to No. 9 in the NAIA rankings, moving up from No. 16. They finally broke through in the 41st minute when Jaimee Myers scored her first collegiate goal finding herself on the receiving end of a Joanna Idom corner kick for a 1-0 Lancer lead. It was just the sixth goal allowed by the Cougars.
The second half, however, was a completely different story. The Cougars not only out-shot the Lancers, 10-2, in the second half but scored twice to not only erase the deficit but escape with the win. Both goals came off long balls played over the top of the Lancer defense by the Cougar defense.
In the 51st minute, Julie Fletcher played a ball from midfield over the top. Theresa Broad ran onto the ball, took a touch around Lancer keeper Ashley Aranda, making her first collegiate start, and found the open net for the equalizer.
Then in the waning moments, with overtime looming, Fletcher did it again. This time her long ball over the top found the foot of Bridget Brotherton, who collected the ball and beat Aranda for what turned out to be the game-winner with just 3:55 left.
Both teams missed golden chances in the first half. In the 10th minute, Sarai Stamper's header banged off the post. Then with the clock winding down to halftime, Broad slid a low ball that Aranda pushed wide. The ball trickled to the far post and stopped almost literally at the post before the Lancer defense cleared it with 3 seconds left.
Aranda made 4 saves in her first-ever start as she was filling in for the injured All-GSAC Heather Andrews. All-American Jill Colfer made just one save for the Cougars.
