Azusa Pacific University Athletics

THIS YEAR:  Senior Brandon Stirm returns to lead an experienced Cougar midfield … Is an explosive ball striker … Ranks second on Azusa Pacific’s career assists list with 30, needing 12 more this season to tie the program record … Has superior technical ability … Understands and reads the game well … Has an ability to score provides great service.
 
2006 (Junior):  Appeared in all 24 games … Started 22 times, including every conference and postseason contest … Finished with 8 goals and recorded 10 assists for the third straight season … Earned the second All-GSAC honor of his career after leading the conference in assists with 10 … In conference games, ranked second in the GSAC in points with 13 (4 goals, 5 assists) … Over a 9-game unbeaten stretch leading into the NAIA Tournament, scored 5 goals and registered 5 assists … Had a hand in all but 1 of the Cougars’ scores in a 4-0 win over The Master’s, scoring once and assisting 2 more … Scored 3 goals in the NAIA Region II Playoffs, including both in a 2-0 first-round win over Point Loma Nazarene and the game-winning “golden goal” for the regional title in a 2-1 overtime win over Vanguard … Drilled a bending 23-yard free kick into the upper left corner for the lone goal in a 1-0 NAIA semifinal victory over William Jewell (Mo.) … Buried both of his penalty kicks as Azusa Pacific’s second shooter in both of the Cougars’ NAIA Tournament-record 10-round shootouts against Lee (Tenn.) and Graceland (Iowa).
 
2005 (Sophomore):  Appeared in all 25 games in 2005, starting 23 times … Finished sixth on the team with 16 points during a strong sophomore campaign … Led all players at the NAIA Tournament with 4 assists in 4 games … Had 3 goals and 10 assists … Finished tied for fourth in the GSAC in assists … Scored a goal in the Cougars’ key 3-2 win over GSAC rival Point Loma Nazarene … Had a season-high 3 points with a goal and an assist in 8-0 win over Warner Pacific (Ore.).
 
2004 (Freshman):  Earned All-GSAC honors after an outstanding freshman campaign, 1 of just 2 freshmen in the conference to be so honored … Started 17 of the 20 games he played … Was third on the team with 24 points, scoring 7 goals and posting a team-high 10 assists … Had 4 game-winning goals including 2 in overtime … Gave the Cougars a 2-1 win over Berry (Ga.) with an extra session goal …  Scored in the 98^th minute to lift the Cougars over Concordia 2-1 in OT … Had a season-high 4 points with 2 goals in the Cougars’ first-ever national tournament win, a 4-2 victory over Mobile (Ala.).
 
HIGH SCHOOL:  Prepped 2 varsity seasons at Valley Christian High in San Jose, Calif., graduating in 2004 … Named All-West Catholic Athletic League second team after leading the Warriors to an 18-3-5 finish, the WCAL championship and an appearance in the Central Coast Section quarterfinals as a 2004 senior … Led the Warriors to a 17-6-4 finish and the Central Coast Section semifinals after earning WCAL honorable mention as a 2003 junior.
 
PERSONAL:  Born Jan. 28, 1986, in San Jose, Calif. … Has 1 brother, Chris, who played soccer at San Jose Christian College, and 1 sister Sheri, who played volleyball and soccer at San Jose Christian College … His cousin, Brian Stirm, pitched 4 seasons in the San Francisco Giants farm system … Majoring in marketing … Enjoys fishing and hockey.