AZUSA, Calif. – With a handful of players celebrating their final home game, it was a newcomer who put the icing on the cake.
The Cougars posted a 3-0 win to end their home schedule against Holy Names on Saturday afternoon as two seniors scored the first goals before a first-year ended the scoring.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Azusa Pacific continued to press into the upper third but despite holding an 11-3 shot advantage in the first half, neither team found the back of the net.
The Cougars broke the scoreless drama in the 53rd minute. After Katelyn Rogers initial shot was saved to the left side, Allison Pepper quickly played the ball back to the middle. Stephanie Lossau was eagerly awaiting the ball and volleyed the ball into the open net for her third goal of the season
In the 69th minute Azusa Pacific got some insurance as Pepper deposited the ball in the goal after a nice feed from Rachel Curley. For the senior Pepper, it was her second goal of the season.
The game was put away when freshman Kaylee Nicoll scored her first collegiate goal with a left footed blast in the 86th minute. Nicoll's rocket came from 30 yards out and tickled the twine with power.
SENIOR DAY: Prior to the game there was a ceremony to honor the seven players who were playing their final home game. During the last four years they won two PacWest titles as well as qualified for two NCAA Tournaments in which they won a pair of games. The seniors were Zoey Bauman, Kelsey Lindor, Lossau, Hayley Patterson, Pepper, Rogers and Mallory Walton.
WINNING SEASON … AGAIN: The Cougars assured of their 20th straight winning season. With one game left they have an 8-5-2 overall mark. In PacWest games Azusa Pacific is 7-2-2.
QUOTABLE: "I think this conclusion to my time here is great. It is a great last hurrah. Scoring today was just a final exciting moment," said Pepper. "It has been a fun ride. We are worked so hard as a family and I can't believe that it has come to an end."
"We had a lot of pressure during on our team during these seasons but we have overcome it and we have lived up to our motto of 'fight,'" said senior Kelsey Lindsor. "That last four minutes when senior Zoey Bauman [the goalkeeper] played the field then to see us all encourage her and push her during this unique chance shows the character and defines our team. We do things together as one."
UP NEXT: The Cougars end the season with a road game on Saturday at Dixie State. First kick is 5:00 p.m. (MST).
