Box Score POMONA, Calif. - An early goal in the second half was all Cal Poly Pomona needed in recording a 1-0 victory over Azusa Pacific on Thursday evening.

Each team had their opportunities to get on the scoreboard in the opening 45 minutes but neither team could find the back of the net. The Cougars best chance from in close came in the 41st minute when Keenan Armbrust attempted to volley a centering pass in the air but his shot from 12 yards out sailed high.

Christian Gonzalez Diaz scored 40 seconds into the second half when he found a bouncing ball in the middle of the box off a long pass from Matthew Perez for the game's lone goal.

The game took a big shift in the 55th when the Broncos were called for a red card. From that point forward the home team packed in on the defensive end as their 10 players focus was mostly a defensive mindset. During the final 35 minutes the Cougars posted a 4-1 shot advantage.

Azusa Pacific had a solid opportunity to knot the score up when Jeremy Bishop rocketed a shot on goal but Bronco goalie Pablo Quevedo made the save but couldn't control the blast. On the ensuing loose ball in the box Azusa Pacific couldn't corral the ball before the Cal Poly Pomona defense ended the threat. That was the last quality chance the Cougars had in the contest.

By game's end the Azusa Pacific offense posted an 11-8 shot advantage. Each team took three corner kicks.

The Cougars have less than a 48-hour turn around when the hit the road again for a contest at UC San Diego on Saturday evening.

GAME NOTES

Azusa Pacific came into the match-up ranked fifth in the region while Cal Poly Pomona sported a ranking of six … The Broncos now lead the all-time series 8-7-1