RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Freshman Theresa Broad and sophomore Bridget Brotherton each scored nearly identical second-half goals to lead the NAIA's No. 2-ranked Azusa Pacific to a 2-1 come-from-behind win over No. 9-ranked California Baptist Wednesday afternoon.
Despite a 6-5 shots advantage in the opening half of play, the Cougars trailed at the break following a 41st-minute California Baptist goal off a corner kick deflection found the back of the net for the Lancers.
Just over 5 minutes into the second half, senior Julie Fletcher played Broad over the top of the Lancer defense, and Broad evaded California Baptist goalkeeper Ashley Aranda to the left side before sending the equalizer back across into the net for a 1-1 tie.
With the Cougars generating 10 shots to just 2 for the Lancers in the second half, Fletcher again sent a clearance over the top, this time finding Brotherton near the top of the box with just under 4 minutes to play in the game. Brotherton sent the game-winner just inside the far post to beat Aranda once more and seal the 2-1 win for Azusa Pacific.
The pair of assists marked the first points of the season for Fletcher, a defender who has started all 9 games while taking just 1 crack at the goal so far this season. The Cougar defense allowed 1 goal or less for the eighth time this year and the 35th time in the past 37 games dating back to the final 6 games of the 2004 season.
The Cougars, who have won 26 of 30 all-time contests in the series between the teams, ran their unbeaten streak against the Lancers to 19 games. In last season’s NAIA Region II semifinal, California Baptist pushed the Cougars to penalty kicks, earning a 1-1 draw that snapped a 17-game losing streak to Azusa Pacific, which won the shootout 3-1.
With the win, the Cougars earn another 3 points in the conference standings with a 2-1 record in Golden State Athletic Conference play and improve to 8-1 overall. California Baptist, which jumped 7 spots to No. 9 in the NAIA Coaches Poll released this afternoon, drops to 2-1 in GSAC play, 8-2 overall. Azusa Pacific returns to action Oct. 7 when it hosts No. 25-ranked Vanguard at 3:30 p.m. in the second game of a men’s and women’s GSAC soccer doubleheader.
