AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific came close on multiple occasions but could not find the back of the net, settling for a scoreless draw against long-time NAIA rival Westmont in their first meeting where both teams are members of the NCAA Saturday evening at the Cougar Soccer Complex

How It Happened:  The Cougars had the best chance of the first half in the 19th minute.  Fritz Oestreicher cleared a Warrior cross all the way out to midfield, where a Westmont defender too casually headed the ball back toward his keeper.  Issaka Salifu ran onto the ball and tapped it past the keeper toward the box, but a scrambling Westmont defense was able to prevent a shot on target.  Six minutes later, Leo Moreno made his first save of the night, kicking away a low-angle shot from the left edge of the six-yard box.  Moreno would be tasked with one more save off the same Westmont forward in the 29th minute, but that would be the last time the Warriors would register a shot on net in the contest.

As the contest turned chippy in the second half, the Cougars pressed forward, logging four shots on goal in the second half and having two more hit the woodwork.  Freshman Hamza Adam would get his head on the end of a Zedan Mutlu cross in the 53rd minute and hit it squarely off the crossbar.  Then on a breakout in the 79th minute, Mutlu would feed Salifu whose right-footed effort would again strike the bottom of the bar and stay out, easily the best chance of the night for either side.

By the Numbers:  The Cougars registered five shots on goal and five corner kicks in the match.  Moreno picked up his second shutout of the season and the 10th of his career.  Azusa Pacific has been held scoreless for 382 consecutive minutes, a stretch that spans five games dating back to their lone win of the season against Stanislaus State.  This was the seventh tie in 52 all-time meetings between Azusa Pacific and Westmont.  The Warriors lead the series with 30 wins to the Cougars' 15, though Azusa Pacific is unbeaten in the last six contests (2-0-4).  The two sides will play again in Santa Barbara in three weeks' time.

Up Next:  Azusa Pacific (1-4-2) will enter conference play next Saturday when they head south to take on Point Loma.  Game time on September 30th is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., and livestats will be available HERE.