AZUSA, Calif. – Persistence was a vital characteristic for Azusa Pacific on Thursday evening.
Time and time again the Cougars attack did all they could to get on the scoreboard but it wasn't until the extra session till they secured a 1-0 win against their rival California Baptist.
Stephanie Lossau sealed the win as she scored with 59 seconds left in the first extra frame.
Azusa Pacific held a 29-7 edge in overall shots - including a 12-3 advantage in shots on frame. Senior Mayra Almazan outshot the Lancers by herself as she fired 12.
"No complaints in how we played. They had one good chance in the first half and Zoey made a great save. We had a lot of chances that didn't go in. I've been in this game long enough to know that strange things can happen in games like this," said head coach Jason Surrell. "I was impressed with our attitude and effort today. I didn't have to do much coaching tonight. I was pleased with how we played."
For a vast majority of the opening half both teams had a tough time finding their offensive rhythm. Shots were tough to come by as there was only three total shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
The first official shot came from 30 yards out in the 21st minute when Lossau booted a ball that was corralled by Lancers goal keeper Sara Escobedo. The Cougars had a quality chance a few moments later but shots inside the box by Mayra Almazan and Katelyn Rogers were blocked by California Baptist defenders.
The best chance for the Lancers came in the 38th minute when Chaylin Couzens worked her way deep into the Cougars defensive end but her shot from inside the box was blocked aside by Azusa Pacific goal keeper Zoey Bauman. With three minutes left a Haley Arft free kick from 20 yards curled around the defensive wall but into the waiting arms of Escobedo.
During the opening minutes of the second half the Cougars kept the California Baptist scrambling. Lossau got behind the California Baptist defense but her shot from just outside the box went into the waiting arms of Escobedo. Almazan also had an early shot on goal go right to Escobedo. The opening 10 minutes Azusa Pacific had five total shots.
Almazan was inches away from giving the Cougars a lead in the 62nd minute but her blast from 15 yards bounced angrily off the post an out of bounds. Azusa Pacific continued their second half offensive onslaught and 20 minutes into the half they had an 11-0 shot edge in the frame.
The offensive effort evened up a bit during the final minutes of the half but neither could find the back of the net. Almazan nearly had the game winner with 90 seconds left but her boot into the upper corner was tipped aside Escobedo. With a few ticks on the clock Desarae Felix had a right foot shot inside the box saved by Bauman.
Lossau book-ended the game's shots on goal as she scored the game winner with 59 ticks left in overtime. Her blast from the top of the box found the upper left corner of the goal and past the out stretch arm of Escobedo.
The Cougars will now get on a bus and travel to the central valley for a Saturday contest at Fresno Pacific.
"We have had some good conversation about playing for something bigger than just ourselves. Tonight was what the old Azusa Pacific used to play; effort and desire were very evident. The team here is a talented and it is definitely coming together more these last two games," Surrell said.
