AZUSA, Calif. – The Cougar defense pitched its second consecutive shutout Saturday night inside the Cougar Soccer Complex, earning a 0-0 tie against Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Azusa Pacific had the majority of possession in the first half, but very few chances emerged from all that time with the ball.  The Cougars were credited with five shot attempts in the first half, but only two of them were on target, and neither save forced the Toros' keeper to do anything extraordinary.  Late in the first half, Dominguez Hills–who are currently receiving votes in the national poll–actually came the closest to finding the back of the net when a long cross from a steep angle in the left corner glanced off the top of the crossbar.

The game started to open up in the second half, and both teams would have excellent chances in the dying minutes of the contest.  With just over three minutes to go, the Toros sent a long free kick into the box.  A couple of clearance attempts pinballed the ball to the top of the box, where a Toro chip bounced off the inside of the left post and stayed out.  The Cougars' resulting counterattack turned into a 2-1 that saw the ball reach Lauren Grissom, who cut back toward the middle and her favored right foot, but her shot was right at the keeper, and the rebound was cleared by the Toro back line, ending the last real threat for either side.

Inside the Box Score:  The Cougars ended up with a 15- 6 advantage in total shots, including 6-2 in shots on goal.  Grissom accounted for 6 of those shot attempts, and 4 of the 6 that were on target.  Keeper Alexia Muniz made two saves in the second half to earn her second straight shutout, while Sophia Emerson blocked another attempt off the line in the 83rd minute.  Emerson was one of three Cougar field players (Jada Preston, Anjolie Mayeda) to play all 90 minutes in the match.  The Cougars are now 9-3-6 all-time against Cal State Dominguez Hills, and are unbeaten in their last six meetings with the Toros going back to 2013.

Up Next: Azusa Pacific (1-1-1 overall) will take a brief pause from their steady CCAA diet in nonconference play Thursday evening when they welcome Colorado Mesa to town.  Kickoff at the Cougar Soccer Complex is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.