Box Score AZUSA, Calif. – It was a night of celebration, redemption and victory.
With Azusa Pacific's 3-0 win over Fresno Pacific on Thursday evening, the Cougars extended their winning streak to 10 games and ended a four-game losing skid to the Sunbirds.
Prior to the game the Cougars celebrated the lone senior on the roster. Jeremy Bishop concluded his home career. The native of nearby Glendora has accumulated 16 goals and 12 assists during his time in an Azusa Pacific uniform.
"That was a great game out there. We set out to win and we did," Bishop said. "It was exciting to be out there. I could have played simple but that's not my style and it feels great to play my final home game with passion. We have are excited about the next step this program is going to take."
"Fresno Pacific is a quality team and we have had great games with them over the years so we knew it was going to be a battle," said head coach Dave Blomquist. "The first was just a great half of soccer. Both teams moved the ball well and I felt that if we kept the ball moving we'd break through their defense."
Even though neither team broke through on the scoreboard in the first half, there were solid opportunities for both teams.
Luke Ackermann had the game's first opportunity in the 12th minute but his shot from the left side was saved by Andrew Luis. Alvaro Nogales came within inches of putting the Sunbirds in front 10 minutes later but his left footed blast glanced off the left post.
Bishop nearly scored his 17th career goal in the 31st minute when Ackermann played a nice through ball up the middle giving Bishop a clear run. The senior's one-on-one attempt against Nogales went just high over the crossbar. Bishop had another chance in the 41st minute but his shot from 15 yards was blocked by a diving Luis.
"I was pretty sure that a goal was coming in the second half," Blomquist said. "I knew there was going to be a goal so you got to keep going for it. However, at the same time you have to stay sharp defensively."
Fresno Pacific (9-4-2, 7-2-1 PacWest) came out of the halftime break and had a golden opportunity less than a minute into the frame but Tyler Jaramillo came up huge on Renato Bustamante shot from inside the box.
In the 59th minute Keyran Kelly rattled the cross bar with his shot at the top of the box. On the ensuing rush for the Sunbirds Alvaro Nogales hit a shot that forced Jaramillo to make a save. Ackermann continued the flurry with a rocket that was blocked aside by a diving Luis.
The deadlock was broken in the 68th minute when Carlos Garcia-Partida was fouled in the box. On the ensuing penalty kick Colton Lamb blasted into the right side of the net. It was Lamb's third successful penalty kick this season.
Fresno Pacific nearly had the equalizer in the 70th minute but Dallas Whotlow's header that found the back of the net was waved off because of an offside call.
In the 77th minute Keenan Armbrust made an excellent run down the right side then hit a great crossing pass to Kelly who deposited the ball into the open left side of the goal.
Lamb sealed the game with his second penalty kick of the game in the 84th minute. Fittingly enough Bishop earned the opportunity when he was fouled hard in the goalie box.
The Cougars (14-2, 11-1) held a 16-5 edge in overall shots and earned eight corner kicks comparted to just one from the visitors.
Jaramillo earned the win in front of the cage by making two saves.
"The stretch that we are on right now has been fantastic. The guys have been working hard and it has been great to be a part of what we have going right now. It was exciting at the start of the year to move into full-time NCAA membership and to be on the cusp of a bid to the NCAA Championships is special," Blomquist said.
Azusa Pacific will await the NCAA Division II men's soccer selection show on Monday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. (PDT) to see who their next opponent will be and at where that game will be played. Currently the Cougars are ranked third in the west region with the top six teams qualifying for the NCAA Championships. In the most recent national poll, the Cougars are ranked 23rd.
