SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- For the first time since 2000, Azusa Pacific opened a season with 2 straight wins, picking up victories over Holy Names and Cornerstone (Mich.) over the weekend at the Heritage Club Classic hosted by Westmont.

In a 3-1 win in the opener against NAIA Region II-member Holy Names, the Cougars struck first on a 22-yard strike from Kris Van Houten and carried the 1-0 lead into the intermission. Less than 3 minutes out of the break, the Hawks tied it on a deflected ball in front of the Cougar net.

However, freshman Brandon Stirm put the Cougars ahead to stay just 14 minutes later with a 15-yard blast on the right side. Van Houten then put the game away with another long-distance strike, this time from 25 yards away.

Julian Cottrell made 3 saves in picking up the win for the Cougars, who outshot Holy Names, 17-11.

On the second day the Cougars coasted past Cornerstone with a convincing 3-0 win. Freshman Kolt Callaway scored twice, once in the first 10 minutes and again in the last 10 minutes, on unassisted tallies. Two-time All-GSAC Ian Leibbrandt scored just 9 minutes into the second half on a corner kick assisted by Ferguson Agwu and Richie Craven to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead.

Morgan Cathey was untested in picking up the win and the shutout in goal. He did not make a save as the Cougars outshot Cornerstone, 19-3.