AZUSA, Calif. -- Sophomore Karen Lawrence picked the perfect time for her first goal as a Cougar, drilling a 30-yard free kick into the net just over 6 minutes into the first sudden-death overtime period for the "golden goal," as the NAIA's No. 2-ranked Azusa Pacific posted a 1-0 victory over No. 25-ranked Vanguard Saturday afternoon, the second "golden goal" victory for the Cougars this season.

Lawrence, who had assisted 2 goals entering today's contest, dropped a long, arcing shot behind Vanguard goalkeeper Marissa Swift, who got a hand on the shot, only to tip it up into the crossbar and into the goal.

"I was just trying to get an opportunity for my team," said Lawrence, who appeared to be trying to send the ball in front of goal to set up several Cougars playing forward in the penalty box. "It turned out to be the 1 mistake the (Vanguard) keeper made all day, and it was a good time for her to make it. Once it went in, it felt kind of surreal to have my first goal here win the game like that."

For the Cougars, who generated a 22-5 shots advantage, it was 1 lucky break that seemingly made up for several near-misses throughout regulation, including a pair of near-goals by Azusa Pacific's leading scorer, sophomore Bridget Brotherton. Brotherton, with 9 goals to her credit this season, sent a header just over the bar in the 36th minute, then hit the crossbar on another chance in the 41st minute.

"We created plenty of opportunities," said Cougar head coach Jason Surrell. "We hit a lot of balls right at (Swift), but we needed to have a little better quality with our chances. We never really had to change our strategy, because we knew they would continue keeping it compact in the back."

Junior goalkeeper Jill Colfer made 3 saves to complete her fifth shutout of the season, the 26th of her career. The most dangerous came in the 11th minute, when Colfer tipped a shot from Rachel Housepian into the crossbar behind her, and the Cougar defense cleared it from danger.

"I just tried to get back and not let it go over my head," said Colfer, who has anchored a defense that has given up just 24 goals in 50 games over the past 3 seasons. "We are as solid on defense as we have been in the past. Lauren Lane really stepped it up, Karen (Lawrence) has been valuable in the back with her great sight and Julie Fletcher and Mandy Heins give us great balance."

Senior Jolie Nitta, who scored the golden goal in the Cougars' other overtime victory this season, a 3-2 win at Lee (Tenn.), sent 6 of her team-high 7 shots towards the goal in a 17-minute stretch that encompassed the final 11 minutes of regulation and just over 6 minutes of overtime. Nitta put Swift right to the test in the extra period, putting a pair of shots on goal in the first minute and a half of overtime.

Sophomore Sarah Yoro also fired 7 shots towards goal, putting 3 on goal, while Brotherton finished with 5 shots for the Cougars.

With the win, Azusa Pacific extends its winning streak over the Lions to 13 games, a streak that includes 10 shutouts. The Cougars improve to 3-1 in Golden State Athletic Conference play, 9-1 overall, while Vanguard drops to 2-2 in GSAC, 8-2-1 overall.