California Baptist University
Azusa Pacific
STREAK LIVES ON
10/11/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- The NAIA's No. 3-ranked Azusa Pacific's dominance of the GSAC will continue for at least one more game and their dominance of California Baptist University for at least one more year.
The Cougars scored a pair of unanswered goals Saturday and seemingly benefited from an extra defender?the woodwork?to escape Riverside with a 2-1 win over the No. 7 Lancers.
The win extends the Cougars' conference winning streak to 22 straight games as they improve to 9-1-0 overall, 4-0-0 (12 points) GSAC. It also extends their winning streak over the Lancers to 21 straight, a streak that dates back to 1995.
The Lancers fall to 9-3-0, 3-1-0 (9 points).
“I thought it was an outstanding performance that warranted a result, but we just didn't get it,” said CBU Head Coach Kristen St. Clair. “It was a classic soccer game with a great atmosphere. The fans definitely got their money's worth.”
Indeed they did in this battle of Top 10 teams that lived up to the hype.
As was the case in last year's regional final between these two teams won by the Cougars, the Lancers struck first. In the 17th minute, Jenna Oltmanns sent a free kick to the far post. Kylee Nicassio ran onto the service and headed in her sixth goal of the season to give the Lancers an early 1-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived, though, as the Cougars answered right back in the 22nd minute in almost the same fashion. Katie Rorabaugh, who had two assists, lofted a free kick into the box. Bridget Brotherton ran onto it and tucked in the equalizer just over the outstretched arms of CBU keeper Emily Evanson and under the crossbar.
Just seven minutes after Brotherton's goal, the Lancers appeared to have retaken the lead but Lindsey Merrett's point-blank shot banged off the crossbar. The entire Lancer bench thought the ricochet fell inside the goal line, but no goal was awaeded. Fabiola da Silva followed Merrett's shot with a header, but her attempt hit the crossbar as well, and the Cougars cleared the danger.
The Cougars, who out-shot the Lancers, 20-9, on the day, out-shot them, 11-3, in the first half alone. Evanson made nine saves, including six in the first half.
“Emily was outstanding in goal today,” said St. Clair. “She came up with some huge saves.”
With the game tied 1-1 at the intermission, the Cougars wasted little time wrestling away control. In the 54th minute, less than 10 minutes into the second half, reigning GSAC Player of the Year Theresa Broad put her 17th goal of the season in the back of the net, finishing off a nice buildup by the Cougars. Rorabaugh again sent a ball into the area. Brotherton flicked it with her head across to the far post to Broad, who was all alone and put the ball into the upper corner for a 2-1 Cougar advantage.
The Lancers immediately went on the attack and put two shots on frame in the next five minutes, but Cougar keeper Alexa Douglas came up with two of her three saves. Then in the 70th minute, da Silva found herself alone in the middle of the park just outside the box and fired a low bending shot that beat Douglas but couldn't beat the post. It caromed off the post and was cleared from the area.
Four minutes later, the Lancers took a corner kick. Nicassio rose above the defense and headed it towards goal, but her header was cleared off the line by an APU defender. The equalizer never came.
“We had the No. 3-ranked team on their heels,” said St. Clair, “but to their credit, they finished one more chance than we did, and that's why they are where they are, and they deserve to be there. I was pleased with our performance today, and we had our opportunities. If we continue to work hard, we may get another shot at them in the playoffs. Our girls would love to get that chance.”
