La Mirada, Calif - Azusa Pacific women's soccer ended their 2021 season with a tie against Biola Saturday evening. In an action filled match, the Cougars and Eagles went into double overtime and found themselves in a 3-3 tie after 110 minutes played.
The Cougars graduate a large group of seniors that have played a significant role on the field for head coach Brooke Lincoln. "I can't tell the seniors thank you enough. They blazed the trail for the years to come helping us take solid steps every year in rebuilding the program. They are a very talented class and we are going to miss them," said Lincoln.
How it Happened: The Cougars took a 1-0 advantage in the 24th minute of action when Maddy Morrison collected her 9th goal on the year, placing a ball above the jumping Biola goalie.The Eagles did not waiver as one minute later, they took the ball down field and found the equalizer tying the game at one-a-piece. In the 25th minute, the Eagles put their second goal in the back of the net within minutes of each other, going up 2-1. The Cougars answered by way of Bethany Tee in the 31st minute when she laced a cross ball from inside the box past the Biola goalie to tie the game at 2-2.
The energy carried into the second half for both teams, but Biola found the momentum earlier when they collected their third goal of the game in the 46th minute to take the lead once again. Although the Cougars did not fall, as they pressed the Eagles half of the field and found opportunities to take quality shots. In the 60th minute, Kylie Carwitz set up a free ball for Tee as she fought through a defender and the goalie and broke away to deliver the equalizer for the Cougars. Azusa Pacific and Biola could not deliver another goal in the last 30 minutes, and found themselves heading into overtime.
In the extra 20 minutes, the Cougars collected 6 shots while pressuring the Eagles back line, but could not find the golden goal. Azusa Pacific and Biola left the field tied 3-3 to finish off their respective seasons.
By the Numbers: 19 different Cougars saw the field tonight through 110 minutes of play. Azusa Pacific delivered 22 shots, with 11 of them being on goal, compared to Biola's 16 shots with 8 on goal. Azusa Pacific put up 36 goals this season, which is the highest amount of goals scored since their 2015 campaign. They carried a .496 shots-on-goal percentage, averaging 2.12 goals a game, and collected 131 shots on goal, while holding their opponents to just 53 shots on goal.
Azusa Pacific ends their season with an 11-5-1 record and 6-3-1 in conference play. Lincoln will look to her returners and the success they have found this season to pave the way as they prepare for the 2022 campaign. "We are graduating a big class with big shoes to fill but excited about our returners and our incoming class," said Lincoln.
