AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific decided they needed to give the scoreboard a workout again Monday evening at the Cougar Soccer Complex, treating guests to a 5-3 shootout against La Sierra, an NAIA school from Riverside who is part of the Great Southwest Athletic Conference, the conference Azusa Pacific played in from 1986-2012 (then known as the Golden State Athletic Conference).
La Sierra actually struck first without recording a shot, thanks to an unfortunate deflection off a Cougar defender for an own goal in the 23rd minute. But it would take the Cougars just 72 seconds to respond, as Adrian Luna fed Mario Shuteriqi for an equalizer.
Six minutes later, it was time for Jeremiah Botros to take over the game. The junior took a crossing feed from Ethan Nguyen in the 32nd minute and tapped it over the line to put the Cougars in front, 2-1. Then 10 minutes later, Botros got a beautiful through ball from Osmin Carranza and beat the keeper again for his seventh of the season to give the Cougars a two-goal lead at the half.
In the 54th minute, the Cougars extended the lead once again as Carranza converted a penalty kick. And in the 69th minute, sub Zeke Leighton added a fifth off Luna's second assist of the evening. Those goals would prove necessary as La Sierra's offense sprung to life after the 70th minute, finding a pair of strikes, but the Cougars had done enough to earn coach Dave Blomquist's 182nd win in charge, further extending his new program record.
The Cougars outshot the Golden Eagles 23-9 for the game, including 11-4 in the first half. Alexis Rodriguez and Jacob Cristo split the game in net, with Rodriguez recording a pair of saves in his 64 minutes of action. Carranza had a three-point night while being the only Cougar to play all 90 minutes. This was the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Azusa Pacific (9-4-2) will look to reach double figures in the win column for the first time since 2021 when they take the field for their home finale against Bethesda next Wednesday. Kickoff on the 28th is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
