AZUSA, CALIF. ö Junior Dan Wilson and sophomore Jeff Johnson each scored less than 12 minutes into the game to lead the NAIA's No. 6-ranked Azusa Pacific to a 3-1 victory over Fresno Pacific in both team's Golden State Athletic Conference opener.

Wilson's tally, his fourth of the season, came off a perfect give-and-go lead pass from J.D. Rotteau that split the Sunbird defense at the 8:03 mark Wilson beat FPU keeper Francisco Alvarez on a shot from about 10-yards out.

Less than 4 minutes later, Johnson scored his second goal of the season, knocking in a loose ball from 8 yards out that had ricocheted off a Matt Hall throw in.

Fresno Pacific, the defending GSAC champ that beat Azusa Pacific in last year's NAIA regional final, cut the Cougar lead in half on a Juan Carlos Baviche penalty kick in the 34th minute.

Azusa Pacific had a trio of excellent chances to blow the game open in the second half, but Alvarez, last year's All-GSAC keeper, made some outstanding saves to keep FPU in the game. However, the Cougar on-slaught, which resulted in 16-7 shot advantage for Azusa Pacific, finally wore down Alvarez, who surrendered a Rotteau tap-in goal on an open net after Jordan Jones and Ryan Fridborg made some nifty passes in the box to get an over-matched Alvarez out of position.

The win snaps Azusa Pacific's personal 4-game losing streak to Fresno Pacific and pushes the Cougar record to 9-1 on the season, 1-0 in the GSAC, tied with Westmont, Point Loma, Cal Baptist and Vanguard. Fresno Pacific falls to 3-7 overall, 0-1 in the GSAC.

GAME STATS

Score by Halves
Fresno Pacific          1     0     --     1
Azusa Pacific           2     1     --     3

Goals: Dan Wilson (APU), 9th min (Rotteau)
       Jeff Johnson (APU), 12th min (Hall)
       Baviche (FPU), 34th min (PK)
       J.D. Rotteau (APU), 67th min (Fridborg, Jones)

Shots:    FPU 7, APU 16
Corners:  FPU 3, APU 6
Fouls:    FPU 15, APU 12

Saves:    Francisco Alvarez (FPU) 7
          Scott Strahammer (APU) 1