AZUSA, Calif. – In another dominant defensive performance before a homecoming crowd, Azusa Pacific picked up its fourth win of the season, shutting out the Whittier Poets 4-0 Saturday afternoon at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
The Cougars had the lion's share of the possession in the first half and took full advantage. In the 13th minute, Abby Campos sent a cross in from the right wing. The initial header took the ball to the left side of the box, where Isabella Santa Maria ran onto it and slammed a shot into the roof of the net for her third goal of the week to open the scoring.
Thirteen minutes later, the Cougars would double their advantage. Again it came off a cross from the right wing, this time off the foot of Lauren Grissom. The ball sailed over the outstretched arms of the keeper to Mayilen Salazar, who chested it down and tapped it in from maybe five feet out to double the lead.
The score remained 2-0 going into halftime, where the Poets regrouped and had their best stretch of the game early in the second. The Cougars had a chance to make it 3-0, but a penalty shot was saved by the Whittier keeper. Finally, another breakthrough came around the midway point of the second half when Julia Galdamez intercepted a pass in the middle of the field and led a quick counterattack, slotting a ball through for Ariana Rivera, who beat the keeper for her first of the season.
In the final minute of the contest, a final opportunity was capitalized on by Grissom, who got the ball about 45 yards away from goal on the left side and dribbled it all the way into the box, then beat the keeper for her third goal of the year to complete the scoring.
Azusa Pacific outshot Whittier 17-6 for the game, including 9 shots on goal to the Poets' 2. Paloma Platas stopped both Whittier shots to earn her third shutout of the season. The Cougars remain perfect this season at home, having won all four matches played in Azusa this year by a combined score of 13-1.Twenty field players saw action for the Cougars, all of whom were in the game for at least 20 minutes.
Still undefeated on the year with four wins and two draws, the Cougars will look to continue to build on this start to the season when they host Caltech on Wednesday. Kickoff at the Cougar Soccer Complex is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
