AZUSA, Calif. -- The NAIA's top-ranked Azusa Pacific used a 3-goal first-half flurry to quickly put its NAIA Region II semifinal with No. 11-ranked Westmont out of reach, avenging its only loss of the season in the process with a convincing 5-1 win over the Warriors Friday afternoon at Azusa Square.
"We came out today with as much intensity as we have had all year," said 2006 GSAC Coach of the Year Jason Surrell. "Losing to them earlier this year gave us a little extra motivation, but being up 3-0 on a team like that at halftime is pretty impressive."
In a 1-0 loss to the Warriors Sept. 30 in Santa Barbara, the Cougars fired 23 shots without finding the back of the net. In this contest, Azusa Pacific converted on its eighth opportunity, just past the 30-minute mark, when sophomore Sarah Yoro headed in a flick from All-GSAC junior Randie Massro to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. On the play, All-GSAC sophomore Bridget Brotherton's long throw found the head of Massro at the near post, and Massro flicked it back to the far post, where Yoro headed it in.
"When the throw came in, my instinct told me to get to the back post," said Yoro. "Randie flicked it backward, and getting back there paid off."
Just 8 minutes later, Massro's cross from the right side went to the far post, where sophomore Sara Odenthal headed it in to give Azusa Pacific a 2-0 advantage.
"After our loss to them, we were pretty upset, and we were pretty fired up in the first half," said Massro. "Once we get one goal in, the floodgates seem to open for us, and we start pounding them in."
Less than 2 minutes later, the Cougars were knocking on the door yet again. This time, Yoro dribbled through a pair of defenders at midfield, who collided behind her, then passed through to All-GSAC freshman Theresa Broad, who took it into the box to draw Westmont goalkeeper Ashley Werner out. Werner and the Westmont defender collided, and Broad passed it into the empty net for a commanding 3-0 lead with just over 5 minutes to play in the opening half.
Less than 5 minutes into the second half, Brotherton broke free up the middle on a breakaway, sending a low shot between Werner's legs to give the Cougars a 4-0 lead. In the 68th minute, Brotherton headed forward to put Broad on a breakaway to the net, where the Cougars' season scoring leader dribbled around a charging Werner and put away her second goal of the game and put the Cougars up, 5-0.
Westmont got 1 goal back when a Warriors attacker was pulled down in the box on a long throw, and All-GSAC senior Anna Gropp converted the ensuing penalty kick in the 78th minute, cutting the Azusa Pacific lead to 5-1 and ending the Cougars' 5-game shutout streak.
In all, the Cougars put 11 of their 18 shots on goal, and Broad led all attackers with 7 shots, 4 of which were on goal. The 6 total goals ties the record for most goals scored in a single game in the 18-year history of the Azusa Pacific/Westmont rivalry, and the Cougars' 5 scores were the most against Westmont since a 5-0 win in 1991.
Azusa Pacific extended its home unbeaten streak to 22 games, and the Cougars will put it on the line when it hosts the NAIA Region II Championship Nov. 7 at 1 p.m.
With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 17-1, while Westmont drops to 13-5-1.
