AZUSA, Calif. -- As far as beautiful soccer games go, this one won't rank high on the list. In fact this one may not even make the list, but nonetheless, Azusa Pacific, paced by Megan Cardin, found a way to win.

Cardin had a goal and 2 assists to lift the NAIA's No. 2-ranked Cougars to a 3-0 Golden State Athletic Conference win over Fresno Pacific Wednesday night in Azusa.

Cardin made up for a sluggish first half by the Cougars by putting them on the board in the 44th minute. Angela James, making her first career start, fed Cardin with a nice through ball past 3 Sunbird defenders. Cardin settled it with a touch and from the left side of the box lofted a ball over Sunbird keeper Audra Carter and just under the crossbar.

The game sputtered along into the second half until the Cougars struck again in the 69th minute. Cardin took a corner kick and lifted the ball into the box to Shannon Coe who headed it towards the goal. Taryn Caylor then re-directed it past Carter for her first career goal.

Then just 7 minutes later on a set play from the left side, Cardin sent a low ball along the ground that Stephanie Weber ran onto at the near post and directed past Carter and into the net.

After a fairly even first 45 minutes, the Cougars began to gain control. They outshot the Sunbirds, 21-5, including a 13-1 margin in the second half. Freshman Jill Colfer made 3 saves to post the Cougars' sixth shutout of the season.

But the night belonged to Cardin, who in 3 games against Fresno Pacific has tallied 2 goals and 4 assists.

With the Cougars leading 1-0, the Sunbirds did have a chance for an equalizer. After a Sunbird shot was snuffed by Colfer, the rebound bounced around the box before being cleared by a Cougar defender.

The win keeps the Cougars perfect as they move to 6-0-1 overall, 2-0 GSAC. Meanwhile, Fresno Pacific drops to 5-3, 0-1. It was the Cougars fourth straight win over the Sunbirds all by a combined score of 23-1.