AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific has played soccer games at its current field since 2002, but Wednesday evening the complex's scoreboard was put to the test as never before as the Cougars defeated Life Pacific by a 12-0 final.
The outcome was never in serious doubt after the Cougars struck for three goals in a span of just 1:45 in the opening minutes. Jeremiah Botros opened the floodgates with his third of the season in the fourth minute off a feed from Leke Ademola. Ademola would find his first of the game just 78 seconds later. And less than half a minute after that, Edgar Ausencio would make it 3-0.
Botros would tack on a second shortly before the half-hour mark, then Ademola would strike for two in a row, completing his second hat trick in as many games. Midfielder Mario Shuteriqi would cap off the first half with the proverbial extra point, sending the Cougars into intermission with a 7-0 lead.
Hamza Adam kicked off the second half scoring with a brilliant header in the 50th minute, the first of two tallies by the senior forward. In between those goals (which bookended the second half) were strikes from Zeke Leighton, who also had three assists on the night; Gabe Schock; and Jeshua Hunemuller.
On the defensive end, it was a quiet night for sophomore keeper Rey Lara, who only had to make one save all evening. Eight different Cougars found the back of the net in the win; and the team was credited with a combined 40 shots in the game, including 22 shots on goal.
The 12 goals scored were the most by the Cougars since a 1999 game against Cal State Hayward (now Cal State East Bay) and one shy of the program single-game record, which was set back in 1985.
Since dropping their first game of the season, Azusa Pacific (3-1) have outscored their last three opponents by a combined score of 22-2. The Cougars will look to continue to build momentum as they welcome a new conference foe, Redlands, to the Cougar Soccer Complex for their next home game on September 16th. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
