AZUSA, Calif. -- All-GSAC forwards Theresa Broad and Bridget Brotherton put their heads together and came up with a winning formula for the NAIA's No. 1-ranked Azusa Pacific, who tallied a 4-0 victory over Menlo Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the NAIA Region II Playoffs.
Broad collected her second collegiate hat trick, twice heading in goals off crosses into the box, and Brotherton scored her goal on a header, as well, leading the Cougars to an 18-6 shots advantage over the Oaks.
"I attribute the goals to all the girls around me," said Broad, who has scored multiple goals in 5 of Azusa Pacific's last 7 games. "They do all the work to get the ball to me in great spots, and all I really have to do is finish it. The goals we score all happen because of each other."
In the first 10 minutes, Azusa Pacific generated 3 quality scoring chances, but Broad shot wide at the 6-minute mark, a header from Brotherton hit the post and sophomore Sarah Yoro had a shot from the top of the penalty box sail just over the crossbar at the 10-minute mark.
However, just over 15 minutes into the game, Broad was able to draw out the keeper and dribble past her in front of the empty goal. With 1 defender to beat, Broad kept possession in front of the goal, turned and sent the ball into the goal to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Less than a minute later, Brotherton fired a shot from the top of the 6-yard box, but Menlo goalkeeper Heather Klassen made the point-blank save to preserve the 1-goal margin.
"I honestly thought we were a little flat today," said Cougar head coach Jason Surrell, the 2006 GSAC Coach of the Year. "We didn't bring the same intensity that we had when we finished up conference play. Our focus is to do whatever it takes to win a national championship, and the level we played at today wasn't where we need it to be if we want to complete that goal."
In the 37th minute, sophomore Karen Lawrence played a short corner to senior All-GSAC midfielder Jolie Nitta, who found Brotherton with a cross to the far post, and Brotherton headed home her 13th goal of the year to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Less than 3 minutes later, it was Brotherton who sent in a cross from the right side to the head of Broad, who collected her second goal of the game with a header in the 40th minute.
Broad completed the hat trick in the second half, scoring again on a header, with Brotherton crossing it in to the near post from the left side. Broad's hat trick pushed her season goal total to a team-high 19.
"Our forwards have complemented each other well all season, and today was no different," said Surrell. "Theresa has been great all season, and her ability to finish has brought us another dimension offensively."
Junior All-GSAC goalkeeper Jill Colfer was tested just once in the contest, collecting a shot from Menlo's top scorer Rachel Anden to the near post for a routine save. Colfer's shutout was her fifth in a row and her 10th of the season, bringing her career total to 31.
With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 16-1 on the season, while Menlo finishes the season 11-7-1. The Cougars will host No. 7-ranked Westmont in an NAIA Region II semifinal game Friday at 1 p.m. Westmont, the No. 5 seed in the NAIA Region II Playoffs, defeated No. 4 seed Holy Names, 2-0, this afternoon. No. 2 seed Vanguard knocked off No. 7 seed Concordia, 1-0, while No. 3 seed Point Loma Nazarene defeated No. 6 seed California Baptist, 1-0, to set up the other NAIA Region II semifinal.
