COSTA MESA, Calif. -- The NAIA's No. 3-ranked Azusa Pacific avenged its only Golden State Athletic Conference loss of the 2008 season, protecting a 1-goal lead for over 85 minutes in a 1-0 win at No. 11 Vanguard University in Monday night's GSAC women's soccer opener.

In last year's regular-season finale, Vanguard handed Azusa Pacific its first conference defeat at home since 2004. Although the result didn't affect the Cougars' fourth consecutive GSAC title, it did snap a handful of program-record streaks, including a 41-game home unbeaten streak and a 25-game home winning streak.

Senior forward Theresa Broad scored on the game's first shot, evading Vanguard goalkeeper Jillian Foss for a clean shot at goal from the top of the box. The score gave Azusa Pacific a 1-0 lead just 4:06 into the contest, but the Cougars were held without another shot in the first half.

Meanwhile, Vanguard fired 3 shots at the Azusa Pacific goal in the opening frame, and Gabriela Valles' 19th-minute strike hit the post, nearly tying the game at 1-1. In the second half, however, the Cougar defense limited Vanguard to just 2 shots, including a 32-minute stretch without a shot after halftime.

Both teams finished with 5 shots, and sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Douglas stopped the Lions' only shot on goal in the 78th minute. Foss registered a pair of saves for the Lions, who also held a narrow 5-4 edge in corner kicks.

With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 4-1 overall, 1-0 in GSAC play, while Vanguard drops to an identical 4-1 overall mark with an 0-1 GSAC record.

The Cougars are back in action at this weekend's University of Mobile (Ala.) Soccer Classic, where they will face No. 6 William Carey (Miss.) University and tournament host Mobile. Due to heavy rains, the tournament has been shifted to Orange Beach Sportsplex in Orange Beach, Ala., with women's games kicking off at 4:30 p.m. William Carey is Azusa Pacific's third opponent this season currently ranked in the NAIA's top 6, and the Cougars have yet to face top-ranked California Baptist in a GSAC showdown scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17.

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