COSTA MESA, CALIF. -- A week ago Azusa Pacific made a long trip home after getting thumped 3-0 at Fresno Pacific. A young group of Cougars were left wondering if this was the beginning of a long downward spiral into the GSAC.
Today, they realized it wasn't.
Azusa Pacific captured its biggest win of the season by knocking off GSAC rival Vanguard, 3-1, on the Lions' home field. In the process, they dropped the Lions out of first place in the GSAC and kept them from taking over sole possession of the conference's top perch (Westmont and Fresno Pacific tied 1-1).
Freshmen Jordan Jones and Addi Schram sandwiched goals around another counter by All-American Matt Evans to lead Azusa Pacific to its sixth straight win over the Lions. Jones scored off a centering cross by Dominic Tarantino in the 38th minute to give Azusa Pacific a 1-0 halftime lead.
Evans then tallied a stunning goal in the 61st minute when he dribbled through 4 Lion defenders to find the back of the net. It was his seventh goal of the season.
Vanguard answered 7 minutes later on a Diego Goni goal to cut the Cougar lead in half. However, Schram iced the game with his fourth goal of the season in the 83rd minute.
The Cougars out-shot Vanguard, 13-10. Sophomore Scott Strahmmer picked up a pair of saves while tending the Cougars' net.
With the win, the Cougars, who have now won 4 of their past 5 games, move into third place tie in the GSAC with Vanguard, a half game behind front-running Westmont and Fresno Pacific.
