AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific maintained its perfect home record in 2026, pulling away in the second half to defeat Westcliff by a 5-0 final Wednesday evening at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
The scoring started in the ninth minute when Isabella Santa Maria got a pass from Mayilen Salazar, dribbled once to her right, and curled a ball right over the keeper's head into the center of the net for her first goal of the season. While the Cougars would continue to threaten, attempting nine shots in the first half, the score would remain unchanged heading into halftime.Â
However, about 15 minutes into the second half, the floodgates opened. Santa Maria got the ball on the left wing, drove toward the end line, and sent in a cross. Anela Sandobal ran onto it and sent a right-footed volley into the net for her third of the year to double the lead. And just under two minutes later, Santa Maria would run onto another ball on the left wing, dribble into the box, and beat the keeper from an acute angle to earn a brace along with her assist to make the score 3-0.
In the 84th minute, any lingering doubts were put to bed when two quick cards in succession reduced the Warriors to 10 players, and Sandobal buried the ensuing free kick into the lower left-hand corner of the net to increase the margin to four. Victoria Castro would close out the scoring with just over two minutes remaining, receiving a throw-in in the middle of the field and driving to the top of the box before beating the keeper with a shot from just over 20 yards out.
In all, the Cougars outshot the Warriors 25-2 for the game, including 17-1 in shots on goal. Paloma Platas made the one save required of her to pick up her second career shutout. This was the first-ever meeting in women's soccer between Azusa Pacific and Westcliff, a member of the NAIA's California Pacific Conference.
Azusa Pacific has won all three matches played this season in California by a combined score of 9-1. The Cougars (3-0-2) will look to remain undefeated in the Division III era when they host Whittier Saturday morning as part of Homecoming Weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
