Sanford Moves Cougars Along

ST. CHARLES, MO. – The first step is complete, although it did come with a few anxious moments.

After battling through a sluggish and scoreless first half, Azusa Pacific erupted for 4 goals in the final 15 minutes, highlighted by a hat trick from senior All-American Chrissy Sanford, to blow by a pesky Indiana Wesleyan squad, 5-1, in the opening round of the 2001 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Tournament.

Sanford's hat trick, her third of the season, is the first-ever hat trick for an Azusa Pacific player at an NAIA Championship Tournament.

"We kept possession of the ball in the first half, but we were out of sync," said Azusa Pacific head coach Jason Surrell. "Chrissy got a quick goal, which lifted us."

The Cougars, who are seeded No. 2 in the 16-team field and are making their fourth consecutive appearance at the NAIA Tournament advance to the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year. They will face the winner of the Belhaven (Miss.), Concordia (Ore.) game, which will be played Friday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. (PST). The Cougars' quarterfinal game is set for Saturday (Nov. 17) at 12:30 p.m. (PST).

It appeared as if the Cougars were ready to take control when Sanford scored just 32 seconds into the second half off an assist from junior All-GSAC Rachel Evans to give the Cougars a 1-0 advantage. However, Indiana Wesleyan made things interesting again, deadlocking the game at 1-1 just 9 minutes later.

Twenty scoreless minutes went by until Sanford struck not once, but twice in a 2:28 span to blow the game open as the Cougars scored twice more in the final 8 minutes of the match.

"The last 15-20 minutes, we played well," said Surrell. "I don't know why they waited that long, but we'll see. I'm hoping this is our one bad game, and it's out of the way. We played hesitant. We have so many young players who are in big spots, but I'm confident they will adjust, and I still like our chances."

With the 3 goals, Sanford brings her season total to 24, moving her into third place on the Cougars' career goal scoring chart with 44 career goals. She also needs just one more goal to tie Kendra Payne's single-season goal scoring record of 25.

Since falling, 1-0, to Cal Poly Pomona in the season opener (Aug. 27), the Cougars have not lost, winning 16 in a row, the second longest such streak in school history.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

Players Mentioned

#5 Rachel Evans

#13 Kendra Payne

Players Mentioned

#5 Rachel Evans

#13 Kendra Payne