AZUSA, CALIF. -- The NAIA's No. 15-ranked Azusa Pacific scored 3 first-half goals and then used a dominant second-half offense to post a 3-0 victory over Cal State Hayward in the opening round of the NAIA men's soccer regional playoffs in Azusa, Wednesday night.
With the victory, the Cougars, who improve to 11-7-2 on the season, advance to the regional semifinals where they meet No. 14 Westmont (11-3-3) on Saturday (Nov. 6) at 11 a.m. in Santa Barbara. The other semifinal matches Point Loma Nazarene (10-7-1), a 5-0 victor over College of Notre Dame earlier today, at No. 4 Fresno Pacific (15-2-2) also on Saturday at 1 p.m.
"I think we'll be ready on Saturday," said Azusa Pacific coach Don Lawrence. "I think it will be one of the best games we've played in all year."
Azusa Pacific, which beat Cal State Hayward earlier in the year 12-1 in Azusa, found this set of Pioneers to be a vastly improved group from the one that visited back on Sept. 3. This time the Cougars didn't get on the board until the 20th minute when sophomore Matt Hall knocked in a 7-footer off a crossing pass from freshman Jeff Johnson. All-American Matt Evans doubled the Cougar lead in the 41st minute when he rifled a direct kick from 20-yards out past a wall of Pioneers and beyond the out-stretched arms of CSUH keeper Nate Failing.
"The goalie was kind of screened by his own wall so I hit it hard to the opposite side of the wall," said Evans.
Less than 5 seconds before halftime, the Cougars tallied their final goal of the game when sophomore Dan Wilson scored his first collegiate goal on a tap in after Evans had a throw in from the sideline that was headed across by Greg Lazaga.
"I knew we could be a threat in the air against Hayward tonight," said Evans. "I saw the clock and knew there was little time but thought we could get one more play off and see what happens."
Azusa Pacific needed just 6 shots to score the 3 first-half goals. In the second half, they peppered Failing with 17 more shots but none found the back of the net. The dominating Cougar offense controlled the final 45 minutes of play and as a result Cal State Hayward never mounted a good offensive challenge.
"We haven't been able to come out and take charge and get up on people all season," added Matt Evans. "This game we did, and in the second half we settled down and played our game."
Saturday's semifinal with Westmont is a rematch of a Golden State Athletic Conference regular season game earlier this year in which Azusa Pacific upset the then No. 4-ranked Warriors, 2-1, in OT in Azusa. However, Azusa Pacific has never beaten Westmont in 5 previous postseason games, all of which were played on the Warriors' home field in Santa Barbara.
