AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific defeated Concordia by a score of 4-2 in a non-conference matchup Saturday afternoon, taking control of the match with three second-half goals.

Even with the four-goal explosion, the final score was misleading as the Cougars compiled a 25-7 edge in shots and scored all four goals in the run of play while both Concordia scores came from penalty kicks. Gabriel Costa assisted three goals and scored another to play a part in all four goals.

Azusa Pacific wasted no time setting the tone in its attack, opening up the scoring in the 11th minute. Sophomore James Ndubueze received a through ball from Costa, finding the back of the net after beating the keeper one-on-one to open the scoring with his fifth goal of the year. Concordia responded later in the half, with a Connor Gordon penalty kick that tied the score at 1-1 in the 34th minute.
 
After creating multiple opportunities and controlling the pace of the match through the first 20-plus minutes of the second half, Azusa Pacific's breakthrough finally came in the 68th minute, when Costa, the PacWest scoring leader, buried his ninth goal of the year from just beyond the 18-yard box after receiving a pass from junior Arturo Astorga. That gave the Cougars the lead for good, and six minutes later Astorga was the recipient of a through ball from Costa to score his fifth goal of the season and extend the lead to 3-1 in the 74th minute.
 
In the 83rd minute, Costa crossed a ball to the back post, where junior Rene Santos put it away for his second goal of the season. Costa's three-assist performance pushed his season assist total to six.
 
Another Gordon penalty kick in the 84th minute helped Concordia trim the lead down to two goals, 4-2.
 
Azusa Pacific put 12 of its 25 shots on goal, and sophomore goalkeeper Brendan Fix registered two saves while putting in the full 90 minutes in goal for the Cougars.
 
With the win, Azusa Pacific is now 7-1-1 on the season with a seven-match unbeaten streak. The Cougars return to action next week with a visit to San Diego for a matchup with Point Loma, which is currently second in the PacWest standings. Concordia is now 3-5 on the year.

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