Box Score AZUSA, Calif. – A comfortable lead gave way to a tense game before late minute heroics put Azusa Pacific in the win column.

Azusa Pacific jumped out to a 3-0 lead but a flurry of goals to start to the second half by the visitors made for some anxious moments.

"We came out and created some really good chances and took advantage of what we created. We were dangerous and found some goals," said head coach Dave Blomquist. "In the first half we didn't give them anything. Defensively we cut down anything they were trying to do."

The game's first goal came in an odd fashion in the 20th minute. The Holy Names goalkeeper was called for an illegal touching inside the box. On the ensuing indirect kick Keyran Kelly had a real quick touch to Jeremy Bishop who drove the ball into the back of the net past the seven-person defensive wall.

Bishop and Kelly teamed up for the game's second in the 23rd minute. Kelly gave a nice pass to Bishop just outside the top of the box and Bishop beat the goalie on a one-on-one opportunity for his second goal in less than five minutes. 

Azusa Pacific gave themselves a three-goal cushion when Kaleb Armbrust scored his second career goal in the 32nd minute with a beautiful right footed blast from 20 yards out that went just underneath the cross bar. 

Despite being down by three goals, the Hawks started the second half with an offensive intensity they didn't show in the first half. Jamie Philips, the PacWest's leading goal scorer, found the back of the net in the 53rd minute off a free kick from 25-yards out. Holy Names crept within a goal in the 61st minute as Berdi Merdanov redirected a Phillips free kick.

The visitors ultimately tied the score at 3-3 when Toby Tomassi scored from in close after a centering pass from the far right side off of Yohannes Harish's foot. 

"It only takes a moment to change the game. I think we lulled a little bit and they came alive and got some confidence and rolled with it," Blomquist said.

The game winning goal was a beauty as three different players contributed to the net finder with just over eight minutes left. Dane Johnson made a run down the right side and made a touch pass to Armbrust. In turn, Armbrust made a touch pass of his own to Kelly who tucked a shot from 15 yards out pass the goalkeeper and off the right goal post.  

"We had really good movement on the goal. When our attackers are on the move they can create a lot of great things. The play started out well and Keyran had a great finish," Blomquist said.

Phillips had one last opportunity with a free kick from 20 yards in the final seconds but his attempt went wide of the goal just behind the final horn.

Azusa Pacific held an 8-6 edge in shots on frame. They also earned more corner kicks then their counterparts (4-1). 

It was the highest scoring game for Azusa Pacific since a 4-3 victory over Saturday's opponent, Notre Dame de Namur, last season.