Freshman Matt Evans scored a goal and assisted on the tying one a minute later off the foot of Ryan Fridborg, setting up Eric Smith's overtime winner and lifting the Cougars to a 4-3 win over the Vanguards in GSAC play.

"Good teams with character find ways to win, and that is exactly what we did today," said Cougars' head coach Don Lawrence.

The Vanguards came racing out of the blocks, pressuring the Cougars from the opening kick and were rewarded for their efforts. Midfielder Joakim Ulfvebrand rocketed a loose ball into the upper left corner only two minutes into the game, putting SCC up 1-0.

The early goal gave the sluggish Cougars the wake-up call they needed. Freshman Ryan Fridborg, playing in the center of the defense instead of his customary left side, blasted a left foot shot to the far post seven minutes later, tying the game at 1-1.

"I was not expecting to play there today," said Fridborg. "I didn't find out I was playing there until this morning, but I enjoyed the change. I get a lot more of the action there and am able to keep my concentration much easier."

The next hour of the match saw very few chances for either team, but the 68th minute changed the tide. Forward Diego Goni beat the Cougars' offside trap and found himself alone with only goalkeeper Tim Gorman to beat. Gorman stopped the initial shot, but was called for a controversial foul on the rebound, being ruled to have grabbed Goni's leg while attempting to gain possession of the ball. Goni converted the penalty kick and gave the Vanguards the lead, 2-1.

Thirteen minutes later, Goni looked to have put the nail in the coffin of the Cougars' season. Again, he beat the defense in the 81st minute for a breakaway, this time beating Gorman on the first attempt, making it 3-1.

"After that third goal, nobody on this team was going to give up," said Fridborg. "We knew this was our season and I felt like we still had a chance."

The comeback attempt began three minutes later when Will Cummins was fouled in the Vanguards' penalty area, giving the Cougars a penalty kick of their own. Evans tucked it into the left corner, bringing the score to 3-2.

Less than a minute later, the Cougars got the dramatic equalizer. All-American Jason Roufs was fouled just outside the area, setting up a good scoring opportunity. Evans touched the ball to his left to an oncoming Fridborg, who rifled a 26-yard curling shot into the right corner of the net, knotting the game at 3-3.

"I've tried that play a thousand times in practice and end up sailing it over the bar," said Fridborg about the equalizer. "I just focused on hitting it well, and when I hit it I knew it was in before it even hit the net."

The goal set the stage for Smith's game-winner. After another chance by Goni that was turned away by defender Mike Ditta, an SCC transfer, the Cougars worked the ball down for a throw-in deep in the Vanguards' end. Freshman Dan Wilson picked up a loose ball and hit a desperate ball into the penalty area. His pass found the foot of a wide open Eric Smith, who calmly gathered control of the ball and hit it into the right side of the net for the victory.

"I think the bad luck is behind us," said Lawrence in reference to the third questionable penalty kick awarded against the Cougars in the past three weeks. "We ended up finding a bit of good luck and took advantage of our opportunities when it counted."

"We kept working hard and believed in ourselves," said Smith. "The seniors knew that if we lost, this was the last game for us. We left our hearts on the field and gave it everything that we had."

With Biola losing 3-0 to Westmont today, the Cougars are now only one game out of second place in the Inland Division of the GSAC in the race for the final playoff spot.

Scoring by Periods
So. Cal College         1   2   0 -- 3
Azusa Pacific           1   2   1 -- 4

GOALS:  Ulfvebrand (SCC), Fridborg 2 (APU),
        Evans (APU), Smith (APU)
ASSISTS: Evans 2 (APU), Wilson (APU)
SAVES:  Gorman (APU) 6, Resor (SCC) 3
SHOTS:  APU 16, SCC 12
FOULS:  APU 13, SCC 17
CORNER KICKS:  APU 11, SCC 4
PENALTY KICKS: APU 1, SCC 1