AZUSA, CALIF. -- At this point in the GSAC schedule, things have not gone well for Azusa Pacific. Losses in three of the first four conference games and dropping out of the NAIA rankings meant it was do-or-die time for the Cougars, and they responded.
All-American forward Jason Roufs scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 18th minute as the Cougars (9-4-1, 2-3) knocked off No. 9-ranked Point Loma Nazarene (10-2-1, 3-2), 2-1 in Azusa Tuesday evening. The Cougars came out of the gates with an intensity that was needed if they hoped to turn things around and qualify for the GSAC Postseason Tournament.
Freshman Matt Duntsch got Azusa Pacific on the board in the 13th minute when he banged home a header off a free kick from Matt Evans and put the Cougars up 1-0. Six minutes later, it was Roufs' turn to score and make history.
Defender Kevin Haras worked a beautiful 1-2 pass with Roufs, setting him up to put Azusa up 2-0 with a 15-yarder into the left corner. With the goal, Roufs became the all-time point scoring leader in Azusa Pacific history with 110, passing Kojo Asamoah (1979-83).
Morteza Hirad gave the Crusaders life less than a minute later. Colin Bowles slotted a pass through the trapping Cougar defense and sprung Hirad for a breakaway where he beat netminder Tim Gorman and made it 2-1. However, there were few chances after that for Point Loma.
The Cougars were without three starters, including All-American forward Carlos Ochoa (injury), Will Cummins (yellow card accumulation) and Jess Hetherington (injury). Azusa Pacific hosts Southern California College on Saturday in Azusa at 1 p.m.
Scoring by Halves
Point Loma Nazarene 1 0 -- 1
Azusa Pacific 2 0 -- 2
GOALS: Duntsch (APU), Roufs (APU),
Hirad (PLNU)
ASSISTS: Evans (APU), Haras (APU), Bowles (PLNU)
SAVES: Gorman (APU) 2, Mark Keller (PLNU) 6
SHOTS: APU 20, PLNU 10
FOULS: APU 13, PLNU 16
CORNER KICKS: APU 8, PLNU 4
