Cougars Roar Past Cal Baptist

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. -- Azusa Pacific appears to be peaking at the right time. As the Cougar offense shifts into a high gear, the defense is dropping gears on the foe.

The NAIA's No. 2-ranked Cougars dumped Cal Baptist, 4-0, in a GSAC contest Saturday afternoon to move to within 1 win of a second GSAC title in 3 years.

The Cougars have shut out their past 4 opponents (a season-high streak) while out-scoring them 22-0 in the process.

Against the Lancers, the Cougars scored 3 first-half goals in a matter of 28 minutes to take control of the game. Kimber Carter's second tally of the season was a header into the far post off a Rachel Evans' free kick that put Azusa Pacific on the board in the 17^th minute.

Less than 10 minutes later, Chrissy Sanford scored from long range to double the Cougar lead. Sanford has now scored a goal in 6 straight games and has 41 points, becoming only the fifth Cougar ever to eclipse the 40-point plateau in a season.

In the final 30 seconds of the half, the Cougars put together an offensive flurry that resulted in a corner kick. In an attempt to beat the clock, Rachel Messick hurried her corner kick and caught the Lancer defense out of position. Her perfectly placed kick landed at the feet of a sliding Kendra Payne, who ricocheted a low whistling shot into the back of the net from with 11 seconds remaining.

Less than 8 minutes into the second half, Azusa Pacific capped the scoring when Rachel Lawler registered her third goal of the season and the second in as many games by converting a Payne corner kick. Payne, who leads the GSAC with 55 points, just 3 off her conference record set last year, has scored at least 1 point in 13 consecutive games.

From there the rest was up to freshman keeper Melissa Strother, who recorded a season-high 9 saves to post her fifth shutout of the season and her third straight.

With the win, the Cougars improve to 14-2-3 overall, 5-0-1 in the GSAC. An Azusa Pacific win at Biola on Wednesday (Oct. 25) will clinch the GSAC crown.

Cal Baptist falls to 10-7-1 overall, 4-3 in the GSAC.

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Players Mentioned

Melissa Strother: GK; 5' 10"; Freshman

#4 Rachel Lawler: M; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#5 Rachel Evans: M; 5' 3"; Sophomore

#7 Kimber Carter: D; 5' 9"; Junior

#10 Rachel Messick: F/M; 5' 6"; Senior

#13 Kendra Payne: F; 5' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Melissa Strother
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: GK

#4 Rachel Lawler
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: M

#5 Rachel Evans
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: M

#7 Kimber Carter
: 5' 9"; Junior
: D

#10 Rachel Messick
: 5' 6"; Senior
: F/M

#13 Kendra Payne
: 5' 5"; Senior
: F