BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A tough defeat to a great season.
Western Washington made an early goal stand-up for all 90 minutes as they claimed the NCAA Division II West Region title with a 1-0 victory against the Cougars on chilly and damp Thursday evening in northwest Washington.
The loss for Azusa Pacific completes their season with a 16-3 record. The setback ends an 11-game winning streak dating back to Oct. 8 and ends a run of five straight playoff wins dating back to 2013.
The Vikings, who ranked 10th in the nation in goals against average (.468), kept the Cougars to a single shot on goal. The nation's second ranked team held a 19-7 edge in total shots with five of them coming on net. The Great Northwest Conference champions have won the regional title two of the last three years.
"They did a good job of pressing for 90 minutes. That's what they do and that's what they good are at. If we could have capitalize on some early opportunities the game could have unfolded differently," head coach Jason Surrell said. "They just come at you and press you for the whole game. They are such a good team and with the conditions being different than we are used to we knew we had a tough challenge."
Katelyn Rogers had a decent scoring opportunity less than three minutes into the game but her shot with a defender on her hip at the top of the box went high.
Western Washington opened the scoring in sixth minute when Caitlyn Jobanek found the back of the net. Azusa Pacific had trouble clearing a loose ball in the box before Jobanek found an opening in the Cougars defense and beat goal keeper Sarah Klinkenberg with a shot in the lower left corner.
"We got a little rattled with the goal and our lack of experience showed a bit tonight. It was turnover in the zone and it shook us a bit," Surrell said. "They are experienced team who has been here before and to a certain extent they took advantage of our inexperience."
After the goal, Rogers created another opportunity with a run down the left side but her shot from just outside of the box went wide right of the goal post in the 12th minute. Azusa Pacific didn't get another shot attempt to late in the half when Stephanie Lossau's attempt was blocked by the Vikings defense.
After 45 minutes the home team held a 12-3 edge in total shots – a 2-0 advantage for shots on frame. The home team took all three of the stanza's corner kicks.
During the early moments of the second half the Victoria Kovatch played a nice looping ball into the box from the left side but the Cougars couldn't get a head or foot on the ball before Vikings goal keeper Ashley Haden grabbed the ball in mid-air.
Western Washington had two shots from 25 yards out on the left get on frame but Klinkenberg kept the score at a one-goal deficit for her squad. During a five minute stretch between the 75th and 80th minutes the Vikings (20-1-1) continued to put pressure on the Cougars with two corner kicks and another offensive charge. Yet, the Azusa Pacific defense was stout and the scored remained 1-0.
In the 85th minute Haley Fisher took the Cougars only shot on goal which was controlled by Vikings goal keeper Ashley Haden.
A trio of seniors end their Cougar tenure as Mayra Almazan, Cassidy Burr and Haley Fisher leave the program with 55 wins and a .723 winning percentage.
"Obviously it's the best NCAA and conference best season ever and when I look back on the season we will be proud of those accomplishments. The tough part of the loss is losing the seniors. They are quality people. The thing that hurts the most is them leaving," Surrell said.
