OAKLAND, Calif. – A quick look at the stat sheet and it would indicate a game where more than one goal was scored. Regardless of the number of goals, the Cougars got what they wanted.
Keenan Armbrust scored less than five minutes into the first overtime to give Azusa Pacific a 1-0 win against Holy Names on Thursday afternoon.
It is the second 1-0 golden goal winner for the senior in the last two seasons after his game winner in 2014 at UC San Diego.
Although there was only a single goal in the contest, the teams combined to take 39 total shots with Azusa Pacific holding a 23-16 edge. The Cougars also held the advantage in shots on goal by an 8-5 margin.
"It was an open with both team pushing forward. There were a good number of shots for only being one goal," said head coach Dave Blomquist. "Both teams certainly had chances deep in their respective offensive third of the field. I give [goal keeper] Jorge [Pesquera] credit he came up with some big saves to keep us in the game."
Pesquera made five saves to earn his first collegiate shutout.
In the opening half each team had an opportunity take the lead but each goalie and defenses kept the game scoreless after 45 minutes.
Callum Wallace and Kaleb Armbrust each had shots that were capable of crossing the goal line but didn't. In the 35th minute John Lee sent a corner kick hat eventually led to a header inside the box from Eddie Alvardo but Hawks goal keeper Kevin Gonzalez kept the attempt out of the cage.
Holy Names had two shots on goal in the opening stanza but Pesquera, in his second career start, made the save on both occasions.
The home team had a chance to score the game winner in the second half but a 61st minute chance by Dominic Calderon that was headed towards an open net was booted away by Dane Johnson six yards before crossing the goal line.
As the second frame continued each team had a handful of shots and shots on goal but the goal keeping from Pesquera and Gonzalez kept things at zeros on the scoreboard.
Keenan Armbrust winning goal was set up when he settled a loose ball at the top of the box for his fifth goal of the season.
"It was shot from 25 yards. The ball fell to him outside the box and he settled it real nice and he hit the ball well really well and it knuckled and dipped past the keeper," Blomquist said. "The way he set himself up for it you can tell this could be it."
Azusa Pacific closes out the 2015 campaign on Saturday with an afternoon contest at Dominican.
