AZUSA, Calif. - Azusa Pacific defeated Westmont 1-0 at the Cougar Soccer Complex to earn its 10th consecutive shutout, breaking the program record (9) held by the 2001 and 2013 squads. Both of those teams saw great success behind their stellar defense, as the 2001 team made it to the NAIA semifinals before losing in PKs, while the 2013 squad won the regular season Pacwest title before going on to win the NCCAA National Championship. They say defense wins championships, and the 2025 squad has the best defense in school history.

"You don't get the opportunity to put your name in the record books very often and I couldn't be more proud or excited for this team," shared Head Coach Brooke Lincoln. "This wasn't a goal we had going into the season- it just kind of morphed into something we wanted to do once it started happening.

I think Sophia (Emerson) said it best after the match - 'I'm just so happy,'"  Lincoln continued. "This is a team goal- if you want to play on this team you have to be willing to defend- starting with our forwards. You have to be willing to press and squeeze and swarm. The back line and GK get most of the praise but this team record is a team effort and starts with our forwards. I'm proud of the girls. I'm proud of our coaching staff. I'm honored that God's given me the gift of leading Azusa Pacific's women's soccer program. Records are made to be broken, and team 37 has done just that!"

Westmont was the toughest opponent the Cougars had seen this season since their season opener against the defending national champions Cal Poly Pomona. The Warriors were physical, they were unfazed by the Cougars' impenetrable defense, and they pressed for a goal until the last second. They outshot the Cougars 13-9, forcing Alexia Muniz to make a season high 6 saves, while only allowing APU to get 4 shots on goal. They didn't shy away from the Cougars' physicality, committing 11 fouls compared to Azusa Pacific's 12. But APU's backline proved why they were the best in the country, weathering the Warriors' storm to not allow anything between the goalposts. 

Jada Preston had herself a night leading the Cougars' back line. She won her 1v1 battles, cleaned up loose and dangerous balls in the Cougars' defensive third, and drove forward to create offensive opportunities.

Haley-Scott Recarte teamed up with Faith Crouse to score the lone goal of the evening. Crouse created space on the left side, using her speed to slip past her defender and sent in a cross that Recarte redirected into the goal. Recarte now has 2 goals and 4 points as a true freshman, while Crouse picked up her first assist of the season, bringing her total to three points with one goal earlier this year.

This game marked the end of the Cougars' two-year drought against the Warriors. In their last two meetings, APU held 2-0 leads but couldn't close it out, falling 3-2 last season and settling for a 2-2 draw in 2023.

With the win, the Cougars remain the only team in the PacWest with a perfect 1.000 winning percentage in conference play. They're also the lone team yet to allow a goal in conference action and currently sit second in the standings- just behind Hawai'i Hilo, who has played two more games. This marks APU's best start to PacWest play since joining the conference in 2012.

Up Next: APU travels to Irvine to face third-place Concordia on Saturday. This match up with be a true test for each side, as the Golden Eagles haven't lost since their season opener and have only conceded 3 goals this season. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.