AZUSA, Calif. – Despite being denied early, the Cougars came-up with what they needed late.
After being held scoreless in the opening stanza, Azusa Pacific scored three goals in less than 20 minutes in the second half as they posted a 3-0 victory against BYU-Hawaii.
"I think they weren't pressuring but our urgency to go to goal wasn't there. Our opportunities weren't as good as I had hoped in the first half and we certainly talked about that at halftime," Azusa Pacific head coach Jason Surrell said. "We cleaned it up in the second half and that goal helped loosen things up."
With just three games left in the regular season the Cougars are in prime position to qualify for the NCAA postseason in just their second season with the association. Azusa Pacific is ranked second in the west region with the top six teams qualifying for the postseason. The final rankings will be revealed on Nov. 9 during the selection show.
"We talked about how every game is a big game. That's our mentality each time we step on the field so no matter how big the game or moment may bring we feel like we are ready no what is on the line," Surrell said. "I don't believe we feel any extra pressure these final games because of the mentality we take into every game."
In Thursday's contest the Cougars, who spent a vast majority of the first half in their offensive zone, came close to finally breaking through in the 24th minute when Mayra Almazan's shot from 30 yards clipped the right post. The same post was hit in the 36th minute as Katelyn Rogers put Azusa Pacific's 15th shot past BYU-Hawaii goal keeper Kelsey East but off the iron.
BYU-Hawaii had their only decent opportunity with seven minute left in the half when Jessica Smith controlled a corner kick but her shot on goal was saved by Zoey Bauman.
At the close of the first half the Cougars (12-2, 8-2 PacWest) had nearly 90 percent of the 19 total shots taken in the stanza but each team went into intermission without a goal.
In the 53rd minute the Cougars persistence finally came to fruition when Haley Fisher's shot from the top of the box tickled the twine. Casey Thompson assisted on the play when she played a nice ball to Fisher for her first collegiate point.
Less than seven minutes later the Cougars added to their scoreboard tally when Almazan scored her sixth goal on the season. Lindsey Ryals played a ball into the box from the left side. East couldn't corral the cross and Almazan cleaned-up the mess by putting the ball into the net from five yards out.
Fisher scored her second goal of the night and third of the season in the 72nd minute. The senior blasted the ball from the top of the box into the upper third of the net. The scoring chance was created when Rachel Curley started the stretch with a shot that was saved by East but not controlled. Fisher took care of the rest.
The Cougars had their second straight game where they took 25-plus shots as they blasted 27 compared to just seven by the Seasiders (5-7-3, 4-4-2). Almazan had a team best nine.
Zoey Bauman continued her strong play in front of the net by making five saves – most of which came in the final minutes of the second half. The sophomore also allowed just one goal in five games this season.
On Saturday's the Cougars close out their regular season home slate against Hawaii Hilo at 5 p.m. Prior to the game they will honor seniors Almazan, Cassidy Burr and Fisher.
