Box Score RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Cougars one-goal magic continues. Even in rivalry games.
Azusa Pacific battled to the bitter end against California Baptist and prevailed 3-2 in double-overtime on Saturday afternoon.
Dating back to last season, the Cougars have now won 15 of their last 19 games decided by one goal. In 2014 Azusa Pacific is 10-2 in such games. They have won seven straight one-game contests. The only game this season not decided by one-goal was a Sept. 27 contest against Point Loma (W, 4-1).
With the victory the Cougars will remain in at least a first place tie in the PacWest with Fresno Pacific after all of the day's games are complete. Later today Fresno Pacific needs to win against Hawaii Pacific to keep pace with the Cougars.
Saturday's game wasn't decided until there was just over one minute left in the contest. Luke Ackermann's second goal of the game decided the back-and-forth affair.
"The thing that stands out the most about today's performance was just how gutsy it was," said head coach Dave Blomquist. "To play two overtime games in less than 48 hours with the second being against a quality Cal Baptist team; to keep fighting to the end and the finding a way to win is a testament to this team's determination."
In the game's opening minutes the Cougars (11-2, 8-1 PacWest) kept a majority of the play in their offensive end of the field Jeremy Bishop and Keenan Armbrust each put shots on the goal in the eighth and 13th minute respectively but goalkeeper Noah Oyler was up the challenge.
Play began to equalize as the half continued; then California Baptist broke the scoring ice in the 22nd minute. Jeromy Gurulu headed home a loose ball off a Josue Soto corner kick despite Bishop nearly clearing the ball before it crossed the goal line. It was the juniors first goal of the season.
The Lancers had another golden opportunity in the 38th minute but Soto's half volleyball attempt went above the crossbar and not into the open net.
The Cougars had a great opportunity on of their first offensive attempt in the second half. After a Keyran Kelly shot was blocked aside by Oyler, Luke Ackermann settled the rebound but his shot from 10 yards was kicked aside by Oyler.
In the 51st minute Ackermann put a shot on goal that was touched by a hand ball in the box which gave the Cougars a penalty kick. Colton Lamb calmly buried the penalty kick into the bottom right side of the net. It was the second straight game Lamb connected on a penalty kick.
Azusa Pacific took the lead in the 58th minute when Ackermann put home a rebounded shot. Kelly shots was saved at first but not controlled which allowed the junior to score his fourth goal in 2014.
Moments later the Lancers nearly tied the score when Mobley's shot beat Cougar goalkeeper Tyler Jaramillo but Chris Brusenback cleared the ball away before it crossed the goal line.
The Lancers eventually found the equalizing goal in the 87th minute when Soto dribbled through the middle of the field and his shot from just outside the box beat Jaramillo on the right side.
In the second overtime session the Lancers best opportunity came in the 105th minute when a free kick shot from 25 yards out went straight into the Azusa Pacific defensive wall.
A Bishop header with just over three minutes left nearly found the top left corner of the goal but sailed wide. Soto had another chance at the top the box just after Bishops' miss but Soto's attempt went array.
Ackermann's game winner with just over a minute left came when Oyler couldn't clear the ball at the top of the box. The goal keeper left the goal mouth exposed and Ackermann deposited the game winner in the open net from 18 yards.
"It is nice to be in a position to have the conference championship in sight. We will keep taking it one-game at a time. These guys have worked hard since day one to make a championship and playoff berth possible," Blomquist said.
The Cougars conclude their season slate with three straight home games with the first being on Thursday evening against the Academy of Art at 5:30 p.m.
