AZUSA, CALIF. -- The Cougars have arrived.
Azusa Pacific has made a complete comeback from a 2-5-1 start to the season, and the capper to the comeback was a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over the NAIA's No. 4-ranked Westmont in Azusa Tuesday night.
Azusa Pacific trailed 1-0 at the half after Westmont scored on a Ben Bingham goal less than 4 minutes into the game. A strong Cougar defense kept Westmont at bay the rest of the game, making up for a dormant Cougar offense that didn't have a spark until the 64th minute. That's when sophomore Matt Hall came charging in and converted a diving header from 5 yards to knot the game at 1-1. Senior defender Oscar Hernandez had crossed the ball toward the Westmont goal, and leaping Jordan Jones was unable to get his head on the high pass, but as the ball sailed past Jones, Hall came from behind to score his first-ever collegiate goal.Junior Dominic Tarantino scored from 15-yards out on the right side in the 108th minute of sudden-death to lift Azusa Pacific to the stunning come-from-behind upset of the Warriors. Tarantino beat a Warrior defender dribbling the ball down the right sideline and turned the corner heading toward Westmont goal keeper Adam Throop. Once he attained body control, Tarantino let loose, beating Throop to his right up high
With the victory, Azusa Pacific pushes its season-high winning streak to 4 straight. And since suffering a 2-1 loss at Cal State Northridge on Sept. 22, the Cougars have won 6 of 7 games. Additionally, the victory over Westmont is only the Cougars' sixth win ever in 31 meetings with the Warriors. However, the Cougars are now 3-0-1 vs. Westmont in the last 4 games played in Azusa.
SCORE BY HALVES
Westmont 1 0 0 -- 1
Azusa Pacific 0 1 1 -- 2
Goals (assist)
WC -- Ben Bingham, 4th minute (none)
AP -- Matt Hall, 63rd minute (Hernandez)
AP -- Dominic Tarantino, 108th minute (none)
Goal Keeper Saves
Scott Strahammer, Azusa Pacific 5
Adam Throop, Westmont 3
Shots
Azusa Pacific 11
Westmont 8
Corner Kicks
Azusa Pacific 1
Westmont 4
