RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Snake bitten. Shell-shocked. Stunned. You name it, and that's how the NAIA's No. 2-ranked Azusa Pacific felt for most of Wednesday.
Giving up just 2 goals in their first 9 games, the Cougar defense had been dominant and for the most part unbreakable. But when California Baptist solved the puzzle and put home their second goal of the day early in the second half, the Cougars had cracked, were dazed and were seemingly headed for their first defeat of the year.
But it's been 9 years since the Lancers have beaten the Cougars, and eventually that streak will end, but not today.
From the clutches of defeat and frustrated for most of the day, Shannon Coe rose to be the hero and did some snake-biting of her own as she scored twice in the final 3 minutes to lift the Cougars to a stunning come-from-behind 3-2 GSAC win over No. 13 California Baptist.
With the win, the Cougars improve to 9-0-1 overall and keep pace with Biola atop the GSAC at 5-0. They extend their winning streak over the Lancers to 16 straight dating back to October 10, 1995. California Baptist, meanwhile drops to 9-3, 4-1, suffering their third loss in 4 games against nationally-ranked teams.
"It's a great win," said Azusa Pacific head coach Jason Surrell. "They're the No. 13 team in the country. We're on the road. Any tie or win on this field is a good result."
Not lost in the win is the fact that Azusa Pacific still faces perhaps its most daunting portion of its schedule next week when they host No. 9 Biola Tuesday and travel to 3-time defending champ Westmont next Saturday.
After All-GSAC Sarai Stamper scored her team-high seventh goal of the year when Cougar GK Jill Colfer mishandled a cross from Alyssa Turner in the 59th minute, the Lancers seemed ready to break the curse.
For the next 28 minutes, the Lancers thwarted attacks and seemed headed for the upset win, but after drawing one of 30 fouls, the Cougars were awarded a direct free kick from 30 yards out. Coe took the kick and floated a ball over Cal Baptist keeper Ashley Montgomery that grazed the underside of the crossbar and bounced just inside the goal line for the tying goal in the 88th minute.
"Coach told me to hit it, and we've been working on it in practice," said Coe. "I wasn't sure if it was going in, but I was praying that it would."
Now stunned from the sudden turn of events, the already shorthanded Lancer defense that had lost All-GSAC Dana Krell to an ankle injury in the first half fell back on their heels.
With the final seconds ticking off the clock and overtime eminent, Randie Massro won a ball in the midfield and launched it towards the Lancer goal. Coe beat a pair of defenders and ran onto the ball, which bounced over the defenders. She collected it at the top of the box and flicked it over Montgomery into the net for the game-winner with 17 seconds left.
Coe's goals were sweet retribution for her as she drew the ire of the raucous Cal Baptist fans early in the second half.
"They were trying to get into my head and affect me, but I used it as motivation to give me more push, because I was tired today," said Coe.
The Lancers drew first blood in the 35th minute on a penalty kick when a Cougar defender was called for a handball in the box. Mary Read's shot just beat Colfer and deflected off the post for a 1-0 Lancer lead.
Five minutes later though, the Cougars equalized. Stephanie Weber found Coe at the top of the box on the right side. Coe sent a ball into the middle and Brooke Williams volleyed it over Montgomery for her first of the season.
Colfer made 6 saves. Montgomery nabbed 8. The Cougars out-shot the Lancers, 14-8.
"We're a good team. They're a good team. It was a well played game, and our girls kept fighting," said Surrell. "That's the way we play. This is the make-up of this team. They keep fighting. Despite all the injuries, they're sticking together and working harder. It showed today."
