AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific finished out the season with a perfect 11-0 PacWest record, following a 3-2 win in overtime against the visiting Point Loma Sea Lions.
David Kwinn scored the overtime game-winner just 22 seconds into extra time, heading in a cross from senior
Kyle Diaz past the Point Loma goalkeeper to send the Cougars into the postseason with a 13-game winning streak.
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The Cougars looked to be in control of the match at halftime, holding a 2-0 lead. Sophomore
James Ndubueze scored his 10
th goal of the season, as he was assisted on a give-and-go by junior
Arturo Astorga in the 38
th minute of the match. The assist was Astorga's ninth of the year.
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Less than two minutes later in the 40
th minute, Diaz found the back of the net for the first time this season. Diaz received a pass from sophomore Kwinn, striking the top corner from about 18 yards out for the goal.
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Coming out of halftime, momentum seemed to be on the side of Azusa Pacific, however, Point Loma struck early in the second half with a goal in the 48
th minute. About 10 minutes later, in the 58
th minute, Point Loma tied the match with a goal by Jacob Moreno, making the score 2-2.
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Throughout the rest of the second half, neither team was able to generate significant chances. The final 30 minutes of regulation included one lone shot, as Point Loma took a shot in the 73
rd minute that was saved by Azusa Pacific goalkeeper
Brendan Fix.
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However, the biggest opportunity of the match came quickly in the first overtime. After sending the opening kickoff to the back line, center back
Isaac Bawa played the ball into the attacking third to Kwinn, who headed the ball to the feet of
James Ndubueze. He quickly played it wide to the right side for Diaz, who quickly settled it and found his target in the box for Kwinn to finish inside the left post from six yards out. The goal was Kwinn's third of the season and his second game-winner.
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Not only did Kwinn's goal end the match, but it was a fitting conclusion to Senior Night, a game that marked the final time that Azusa Pacific seniors will don a Cougar jersey at the Cougar Soccer Complex in a regular season contest. The Cougars honored six players, as
Kyle Diaz,
Callum Wallace,
Stephen Flora,
Lloyd Alexander,
Rene Santos, and
Danny Madrigal played their final regular season game in front of the home crowd. All six players were in the starting lineup for the Cougars in the regular season finale.
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Up next for the Cougars is the program's second NCAA Division II playoff appearance, as Azusa Pacific claimed the PacWest's automatic bid into the six-team West Regional playoffs. The Cougars, who were ranked second in the West Region in all three sets of NCAA regional rankings, will learn their playoff seeding and matchups during the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer National Championship selection show on ncaa.com on Monday, November 5 at 3:30 p.m. The top two seeds in the West Region will host the first two rounds of NCAA Tournament play, with first-round games on Thursday, Nov. 8 and second-round contests on Saturday, Nov. 10.
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