The NAIA’s No. 4-ranked Azusa Pacific earned a 4-1 victory over San Diego Christian to give Cougar head coach Jason Surrell his 100th career coaching victory. Surrell, now 3 games into his seventh season, is believed to be the second-fastest coach in NAIA history to reach 100 career wins, accomplishing the milestone victory in just the 127th game of his coaching career.
"This milestone is a statement to all the girls who have suited up for Azusa Pacific over the years," said Surrell, who was an Azusa Pacific assistant coach for his predecessor Christian Johnson. "It’s a testament to how hard they have worked. It also stems from the success C.J. established here, which I have tried to continue. It’s a cool milestone, but I would like to get the big win (for an NAIA championship)."
After converting 61 shots into just 5 goals in its first 2 games of the season, Azusa Pacific got an early lead on a pair of first-half goals from freshman Theresa Broad and junior Randie Massro. Broad dribbled from midfield to the top of the box on the left side, then drilled a curling shot to the far post to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead at the 14-minute mark. Massro headed in Karen Lawrence’s corner kick 2 minutes later for a 2-0 lead.
In the second half, Massro had a pair of opportunities off corner kicks in the first 3 minutes, but she was turned away once by San Diego Christian goalkeeper Samantha Beveridge and the other went wide of the goal. In the 50th minute, senior Taryn Apo played a ball from midfield into space near the top of the box, where sophomore Sarah Yoro touched it past the diving keeper and put it away for her first goal of the season and a 3-0 Azusa Pacific advantage.
Yoro added another goal 9 minutes later on a similar play, when senior Jolie Nitta played ahead a long ball from midfield, where Yoro knocked it past the keeper again for a 4-0 lead.
"Coach told me to use my speed and keep making runs, and I was able to take it from the goalie and slot it past her," said Yoro, who launched a team-high 5 of the Cougars’ 21 shots. "We wanted to create a lot of pressure taking it into their defense."
Based on coaches with 100 or more wins as listed in the NAIA coaching records, the only coach to reach 100 wins in fewer games than Surrell was Ben Popoola at Park (Mo.), who reached the milestone between his 124th and 127th game. Westmont’s Mike Giuliano, who coached the Warriors for 11 years, held the previous Golden State Athletic Conference standard, reaching the 100-win mark in his 140th game.
With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 3-0 on the season, while San Diego Christian drops to 3-1. The Cougars return to action Saturday to face the NAIA’s No. 9-ranked Carroll (Mont.), which surrendered an 88th-minute goal to drop a 1-0 decision to No. 10-ranked Point Loma Nazarene this afternoon at Azusa Square.
