AZUSA, CALIF. -- After winning 6 straight to move to within striking distance of first place in the GSAC, Azusa Pacific now finds itself limping into the playoffs after suffering a loss to Cal Baptist on Saturday and settling for a 1-1 tie with Biola in tonight's regular-season finale.
Despite out-shooting Biola, 14-8, and collecting 7 corner kicks to the Eagles' 2, Azusa Pacific crossed the goal line as often as Biola, and even then had to rally to get the tie.
Biola took a 1-0 less than 4 minutes before halftime when Nate Wright rifled a shot from the left corner of the box to beat Cougar keeper Scott Strahammer. However, the Cougars evened things just 2 minutes and 16 seconds into the second half when freshman Jeff Johnson rebounded a Matt Evans' free kick. Yet nothing further was determined in the next 72 minutes of play. This is the fifth tie in 38 meetings between Azusa Pacific and Biola.
With the tie, Azusa Pacific finishes the regular season at 10-7-2 overall, 6-2-1 in the GSAC, good for third place, a half game behind Westmont and 2 games behind GSAC champ Fresno Pacific.
Azusa Pacific now heads into the 6-team NAIA Far West Regional Playoffs, possibly as a No. 3 seed, and will host a first-round game on Wednesday (Nov. 3) at 7 p.m. against an opponent to be named on Sunday (Oct. 31).
