Cougars Secure GSAC Title

LA MIRADA, CALIF. -- Senior Rachel Messick scored 2 goals and All-American Kendra Payne added another to lead the NAIA;s top-ranked Azusa Pacific to a GSAC-title clinching 3-1 victory over Biola.

With the victory, Azusa Pacific captures its second GSAC championship in the past 3 years and secures home-field advantage for the NAIA regional playoffs, Nov. 10-11.

"This is great," said first-year Cougar coach Jason Surrell. "The girls have chased the number one ranking and the conference lead all year and getting it at the very end made it that much nicer after working so hard and long for it."

The Cougars came into the regular-season finale with Biola needing a victory to keep No.3-ranked Westmont at bay for the GSAC championship, and they eliminated all suspense as quickly as possible. Payne scored the game's first goal in the 13^th minute with a lob shot over Biola keeper Erin VanHorn. The goal pushed Payne's GSAC-leading point total to 57 on the season.

"I think we have to focus on the regional tournament now because there are a lot of tough teams ahead," said Payne, the 1998 NAIA Player of the Year when Azusa Pacific won its first-ever national crown. "The last time we won the GSAC championship we won it all, so I think that's a good route for us now."

In the 35^thminute, Messick scored her fourth goal of the season with a picture-perfect charging header of a Tiffany Mears' baseline cross that gave Azusa Pacific a 2-0 halftime lead.

Less than 5 minutes into the second half, Messick bent a 20-yard shot around back-up Eagle keeper Candace Hickman to register her second multi-goal game in the past 3 contests and up the Cougar lead to 3-0.

Azusa Pacific clearly controlled play throughout the game. However, with just 17 seconds left, Biolaâs Kim West banged home a rebound to allow the Eagles to escape from a near shutout.

Azusa Pacific, now 15-2-3 overall which includes a 6-0-1 GSAC mark, heads into the playoffs with a 17-game unbeaten streak, the second longest in school history.Ê Despite the loss, Biola, which is 9-7-1 overall, 2-4-1 in the GSAC, should make the regional playoffs after Westmont downed Concordia, 2-0, today.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Tiffany Mears: D; 5' 7"; Sophomore

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

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

Players Mentioned

#3 Tiffany Mears
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: D

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

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

Players Mentioned

#3 Tiffany Mears

#10 Rachel Messick

#13 Kendra Payne

Players Mentioned

#3 Tiffany Mears

#10 Rachel Messick

#13 Kendra Payne