AZUSA, Calif. – On a Saturday night where the heavens opened repeatedly, the only splash on the scoreboard was off a free kick from the visitors as the Cougars dropped a 1-0 battle against Cal Lutheran at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
In the first half there was a lot of high pressure by both defenses, but little in the way of scoring opportunities. Each side recorded only a single attempt on goal over the first 35 minutes. A frequent breeze blowing at the Cougars' back in the first half made long balls for either side an adventure at times, but the keepers were able to the task and the first 45 minutes ticked away without incident.
The rain continued off and on throughout the night, and as the field conditions got slicker, the chances happened more frequently. Early in the second half, Isabella Santa Maria sent a low ball across the front of goal that a sliding Anela Sandobal was unable to direct onto an open net.
Paloma Platas was challenged twice in quick succession just after the 50th minute. She made a save, and while the rebound was hit into the net, the player taking said shot was offside, negating the score.
In the 70th minute, however, the Regals were given a free kick from dead center one yard outside the box. With the wall standing inside the penalty spot, Amira Walker was able to curl it over the wall and into the upper right corner for what would prove to be the winning goal. The Cougars were able to put three more shots on target in the final 20 minutes, but all three were saved.
For the second straight game, the Cougars were shut out despite registering significantly more shot attempts than their opponent (15 to the Regals' 8). Santa Maria had two of the Cougars' 5 shots on goal. Alexia Muniz came on for the final 18 minutes, her first action in goal this season. Platas made six saves in her 72 minutes in net.
Azusa Pacific (7-3-2) will take a break from SCIAC competition over the next week and a half. Their next game is against UC Santa Cruz, scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
