Wolf's Debut Is Memorable -- To Some

POMONA, Calif. – Not that he is greedy or an ingrate, but Phil Wolf had hoped his first collegiate coaching victory might be more memorable.

"Oh I'll remember the palm trees, the mountains and the nice weather tonight," said Wolf as he eyes circled for a panoramic view of Cal Poly Pomona's Kellogg Field. "And you never give back a victory. So I'll take the outcome."

Wolf, Azusa Pacific's first-year head coach, walked off the field accepting the Cougars' 3-1 season-opening victory over Cal Poly Pomona, but he yearned for a better performance from his No. 6-ranked Cougars.

"We couldn't pass tonight," said Wolf. "I think we're ready for school to start, to get into a routine that allows one to have normal times of rest and prepare properly for a game. This being a Monday night, just at the end of a 2-a-days and off a very physical exhibition Friday night, I'm sure was the cause for our sluggishness and sloppiness tonight."

Nonetheless, Azusa Pacific came away with a 2-goal victory to post their 18^th win in the past 21 games, and their first of the 2001 campaign.

All-American senior Matt Evans (Pasadena, Calif./Maranatha HS) scored the game's first goal less than 10 minutes into the game, nailing a shot from 28 yards out to tally the first half's lone goal.

Sophomore reserve forward Michael Dwinell (Susanville, Calif./Lassen HS) clinched the victory in the 65^th minute with a nifty behind the back pass between a pair of Bronco defenders that allowed him to rifle a shot from 20 yards out.

After Cal Poly cut the Cougar lead in half with 15 minutes remaining in the game, junior Jordan Jones (Clovis, Calif./Clovis HS) put the icing on the victory with a header off a Matt Hall (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS) with 12 seconds left in the contest.

"All 3 of those goals were things of beauty," said Wolf. "We may not have done a lot of things right tonight, but those goals were something else."

With the victory, Wolf, who had spent the past 5 years as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III powerhouse Wheaton (Ill.) College, becomes only the second Cougar coach ever to win his debut game, joining Larry Delamarter who win his first coaching effort to start the 1974 season.

Game Recap:
Azusa Pacific      1   2 -- 3
Cal Poly Pomona    0   1 -- 1

Goals:
AP – Matt Evans - 9:56
AP – Michael Dwinell - 64:38
CP – Cherif Guirguis (Bachanas) – 84:58
AP – Jordan Jones (Hall) – 89:48

Keeper Saves:
Scott Strahammer (AP) – 3
Garrett Williams (CP) – 7

Team Stats     AP   CPP
Shots          10     5
Corner Kicks    1     3
Fouls          21    16

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