Cougars Back in Regional Finals Again

AZUSA, CALIF. – Top-ranked Azusa Pacific moved one step closer to a third-straight NAIA Tourney appearance with a 3-1 victory over Cal Baptist in the semifinals of the NAIA Region II Playoffs in Azusa.

With the victory, the Cougars now face No. 3-ranked and defending national champion Westmont College on Saturday (Nov. 11) at 7 p.m. for the region championship and an automatic berth into the national tourney. Earlier in the evening, Westmont downed Point Loma Nazarene, 2-0, in the other semifinal game.

"This is one I've been looking forward to all season," commented Cougar coach Jason Surrell on the upcoming Westmont-Azusa Pacific match-up. "Back in their mind, the girls are excited to get another chance to play them. We're ready for it."

In tonight's victory, 3-time All-American Kendra Payne scored 2 goals and fellow forward Chrissy Sanford scored the other and assisted on Payne's second tally to account for the Cougar offense.

Sanford got the Cougars on the board in the 17^th minute with a running header from 8 yards out off a free kick from sophomore Jennifer Sousa.

With less than 10 minutes left in the opening half, Payne took a long Kimber Carter lead pass and cut across the field, sealing a pair of Lancer defenders which allowed to easily beat an overmatch Lancer keeper Amy Chapman on the one-on-one play.

"If you have you Kendra and Chrissy up there to create havoc on the other team, there is just nobody who has an answer for them," said Surrell.

In the 65^th minute Sanford took a midfield pass and sprinted down the near sideline, passing 3 Lancers in the process, and rifled a baseline cross to Payne, who tapped in the pass for a 3-0 Cougar lead.

All-GSAC forward Courtney Firth scored Cal Baptist's only goal with a long rocket that found the far post in the 83^rd minute.

For the fourth straight year, Azusa Pacific and Westmont meet in a regional or conference championship. The Cougars got the best of Westmont in the 1998 GSAC Tourney final in Azusa, knocking off the Warriors, 2-1, while on the way to the NAIA national championship.

Last year, Westmont got a measure of revenge with a 4-2 regional championship victory over the Cougars in Santa Barbara and eventually won the national title as well.

Earlier this year, the 2 teams played to a 1-1 tie on a muddy field at Westmont.

"I didn't want Point Loma to win tonight because we want another try at Westmont," said Payne, whose first goal of the evening gave her a GSAC single-season record 59 points, besting her former standard of 58 that she set last year. "The game will be a lot faster (than the one played earlier in Santa Barbara) which helps us because we use our speed to our advantage. When we get out on a dry field we can really beat them with our speed."

With the win Azusa Pacific improves to 16-2-3 on the season and runs its unbeaten streak to 18 straight (16-0-2). Cal Baptist, which for the third straight year has its season come to an end at the hands of Azusa Pacific, concludes the campaign at 13-8-1.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

Players Mentioned

#7 Kimber Carter

#13 Kendra Payne

Players Mentioned

#7 Kimber Carter

#13 Kendra Payne