AZUSA, CALIF. -- A pair of 2-1 losses to open the season are nothing more than a thing of the past after the Azusa Pacific offense exploded for 15 goals in 2 games at the 13th Annual Cougar Classic.
On Friday, the Cougars overwhelmed an undermanned Cal State Hayward, 12-1, coming 1 goal shy of the school-record 13 scored against West Coast Christian College in 1985. Eight different Cougars scored their first goal ever in an Azusa Pacific uniform, including senior Josh Hodges, who had a pair of goals and
an assist. Freshman Addi Schram also notched a pair of goals and assisted on 3 others. Freshman Jacob Ward tallied his first 2 collegiate goals to put the Cougars up 2-0. His second goal opened an onslaught of 4 Cougar goals in just a matter of 8 minutes. The Cougars led 6-1 at the half and added 6 more in the second half, playing 9 freshman for the majority of the final half.
The following day, Azusa Pacific came back with a 3-1 victory over U.S. International University. Freshman Jeff Johnson, who had 2 goals the night before vs. Cal State Hayward, scored his third collegiate goal in less than 24 hours to break a 1-1 tie in the 36th minute and send the Cougars on to the victory. Schram and Ward each added goals as well.
In other Classic games, Westmont defeated USIU, 1-0, and Cal State Hayward, 10-0.
Azusa Pacific, now 2-2 on the season, heads to Santa Barbara this weekend for the Warrior Classic at Westmont. On Friday, the Cougars take on No. 11-ranked Seattle, the 1997 NAIA champion, at 1 p.m. On Saturday, they go up against the NAIA's No. 3-ranked Life, also at 1 p.m.
