Bakersfield, Calif. — All the statistics said the NAIA's No. 2-ranked Azusa Pacific cruised to victory over Cal State Bakersfield Tuesday night on the CSUB Main Soccer Field. All of the statistics, that is, except the one that matters.

Backed up by the stellar play of forward-­turned-­goalkeeper Lindsay Bush (Garces HS), CSUB withstood relentless pressure by the highly­-regarded Cougars and scored the match winner with 14 second left in golden goal overtime for a 2­1 victory.

Senior forwards Rebekah Rogers (Cypress, Calif.) rewarded an amazing run by sophomore Jennifer Monsibais (Highland HS) by slotting home her team-­leading fourth goal of the season as the final seconds of overtime ticked away. Rogers slotted her shot under hard­-charging Azusa goalkeeper Melissa Strother, whose valiant effort had little chance to stop the miracle match-­winner.

Although Azusa controlled possession and the flow of play for long stretches Tuesday night, the Roadrunners scored first when sophomore Erica Craven (Ridgeview HS) finished a nice series of passes by sister act Monica and Adrianne Almaraz (Bakersfield HS).

CSUB technically scored all three goals. Azusa equalized five minutes after Craven's goal when CSUB freshman Shelby Klippel accidentally headed in an Azusa Pacific free kick taken by Jennifer Sousa.

Azusa kept the pressure on, almost scoring on several occasions. Stephanie Bays was denied by the crossbar midway through the first half while Bush tamed the rest of the Cougars by making 11 saves in just her second-­ever start as a goalkeeper. Ironically, her only previous start was a 1­1 tie at Westmont College, the No. 1 ranked team in NAIA play.

Shots on Goal APU 19; CSUB 10

Fouls APU 16; CSUB 16

Cautions/Ejections APU­ none CSUB­ none

Corner Kicks APU 12; CSUB 4

Goalie Saves APU 2 (Melissa Strother); CSUB 11 (Lindsay Bush)

Attendance: 383