Soccer doesn't automatically reward the team that plays the best. In fact, it's not unusual to out-play the foe and still lose the contest. Such was the case for the NAIA's No. 5-ranked Azusa Pacific, and the timing could not have been worse. The Cougars fell to Bethel College (Tenn.), 1-0, in the opening round of the NAIA Women's Soccer Championship and with the loss went the Cougars' realistic aspirations for a second national title in the past 7 years.

The game's only goal came with just 19 minutes left in regulation when Alicia James' low-flying rocket from 20 yards out curved away from Cougar keeper Jill Colfer, whose outstretched hands caught part of the ball but not enough as it caromed by, caught the far post, and ricocheted back into the net.

James' shot attempt was one of just a few chances the Wildcats had all game, but it was all they needed to post the biggest first-round upset since the NAIA Tourney went to straight bracketing 5 years ago.

Azusa Pacific was in command of play throughout much of the game, constantly pushing the ball forward and keeping it in its half of the field. However, the Cougars struggled to control the ball in their front third, oftentimes turning it over, hesitating on shots, or firing weak off-goal shots. The stats bear out Azusa Pacific's management and yet struggle to finish plays. The Cougars out-shot Bethel, 14-9, and collected 8 corner kicks as compared to Bethel's 4. However, Azusa Pacific produced just 3 shots on goal as compared to Bethel's 5.

Colfer kept the game scoreless with a couple of nice saves, one in each half on Bethel counter attacks. However, for Bethel's ninth and final shot of the game, James stole a Cougar pass and beat a fallen Angie James to have a clear path toward the goal. She opted to let loose an early shot that resulted in her 11th goal of the season.

Throughout this season the Cougars have flirted with disaster on numerous occasions only to escape in the final minutes as was the case in a first-round NAIA regional playoff victory over Concordia. This time there would be no last-minute heroics, though the Cougars fervently tried. In the final 18 minutes, the Cougars felt a sense of urgency that had escaped them for much of the game, playing with a passion and purpose that gave them 2 golden opportunities to force overtime. Twice, Bethel keeper Ugo Opara made questionable and extremely risky save attempts that left the net unprotected. Yet the Bethel backfield, which throughout the game frustrated Cougar forwards Shannon Coe and Stephanie Bays, rallied back both times to block one shot and deflecting the other just wide of the post.

With the loss, Azusa Pacific's first-ever first-round setback in 7 NAIA Tournament appearances, the Cougars' season comes to an end at 15-2-1. Additionally, 4 seniors, who 2 years ago played in the national championship game, have their careers cut short, including Bays and fellow All-American Erin Arbizu, who missed all but 4 games this season with torn knee ligaments.