AZUSA, CALIF -- Sophomore midfielder Rachel Messick tallied her first career hat trick to lead the NAIA's No. 2-ranked Azusa Pacifc to a 7-0 Golden State Athletic Conference victory over Cal Baptist, Wednesday night.
Messick spurred a 4-goals-in-4-minute spurt by registering 2 goals to blow open the game. For Messick, its her 10th, 11th and 12th goals of the season.
Azusa Pacific led 2-0 at the half after junior midfielder Celeste Mitchell and Messick each scored goals. The Cougars pushed the lead to 3-0 less than 3 minutes into the second half when sophomore All-American Kendra Payne tucked away her 10th goal of the season.
The victory is Azusa Pacific's school-record 13th straight, 1 shy of the GSAC record. The Cougars, who yesterday moved 3 spots up the poll to No. 2 (the highest ranking in Azusa Pacific history), were coming off a 2-1 win at No. 4-ranked Westmont last Saturday.
"We were having a little too much fun prior to the start of the game," commented Cougar coach Christian Johnson on Azusa Pacific's sluggish start. "However, I thought we played a great second half, one of the best all season."
The win is Azusa Pacific's sixth straight over Cal Baptist, and the Cougar have out-scored the Lancers 26-0 in the past 4 meetings.
Cal Baptist 0 0 -- 0
Azusa Pacific 2 5 -- 7
GOALS: Messick 3 (APU), Mitchell 1 (APU), Payne (APU), Duran (APU), Carter (APU)
ASSISTS: Lawrence (APU) 2, Duran (APU), Nagle (APU), Carter (APU), Robison (APU)
SAVES: Yanos (APU) 2, Cooke (CBU) 9
SHOTS: APU 36, CBU 5
FOULS: APU 11, CBU 5
CORNER KICKS: APU 10, CBU 1
