ST. GEORGE, Utah – Looking to start afresh after a tough start to the season during their first Pacific West conference on Thursday evening, Azusa Pacific drew even 1-1 with Dixie State
Both teams goalies and defense were up to the task throughout. Tyler Jaramillo made six saves in front of the cage for Azusa Pacific while his counterpart, Bradley Trella, stopped six as well.
The home team got on the scoreboard in the 16th minute. Frankie Mallek scored his second goal of the season when he received the ball from Santiago Alejandro and scored from 15 yards away.
After the Red Storms offensive efforts were thwarted in the moments after taking the lead, the Cougars picked up their play as shots by Keenan Armbrust and Cesar Santos went on frame. Azusa Pacific broke through in the 40th minute when Callum Wallace found the back of the net. The freshman headed home his first goal on a cross from the foot of Daniel Straton.
"It was a slower start than I wanted. They had us on our heals early and got the goal. I was pleased with how we responded and got the goal before half," head coach David Blomqust said. "We went for it all the way until the. We were sharper in the second half. We had much better opportunities in the second half. We just need to start stronger and maintain that intensity throughout."
As the minutes ticked away in the second half, neither team could find the go-ahead goal despite a handful of corner kicks and shots on frame by both teams. In the second stanza, despite not putting a goal on the board, the Cougars outshot Dixie State 6-5. Ninety minutes of regulation would not decide the conference opener as the squads went to overtime.
Each team was able to get opportunities in the first overtime period but the best chance came in the final minutes when a header by Jorge Echavarria was directed on frame. However, the Azusa Pacific defense scrambled to clear the ball before it crossed the goal line.
During the final 10 minutes of the game each team put a shot on frame. Wallace had a header in the closing moments saved.
Dixie State held a 17-12 edge in total shots. Wallace and Armbrust had a team best five and two respectively.
