The NAIA's No. 2-ranked Cougars defeated No. 3-ranked Simon Fraser University (B.C), 2-1, in the championship match of the 15th Annual NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship in Mobile, Ala., Saturday afternoon.

The win gives Azusa Pacific its first-ever women's soccer national championship, and is the school's 14th overall (12 in men's track & field and 1 in women's volleyball) NAIA title.

The Cougars first trip to the NAIA National Women's Soccer Tournament turned out exactly how second year head coach Christian Johnson had hoped - undefeated and a national championship. Azusa Pacific finishes the season with a 24-0-1 record.

After playing 150 minutes in Friday's 3-1 semifinal victory over defending national champion Mobile (Ala.), the Cougars seemed ripe to be upset by an experienced SFU team, which was making its third straight NAIA championship game appearance. But any thoughts of a tired Cougar team where vanished when tournament MVP Kendra Payne scored off a Janay Duran assist in the 42nd minute, losing her shoe in the process.

Up 1-0 at the half, the Cougars came out firing in the second half, controlling play and putting pressure on Simon Fraser's defense. In the 59th minute, freshman Kimber Carter scored on a pass from Payne to give the Cougars some breathing room and a 2-0 lead. But just 3 minutes later, the Clan scored to close the gap to 2-1.

Cutting the deficit, the Clan kept the ball on the Azusa Pacific end, but the outstanding Cougar defense kept Simon Fraser from scoring, and time ran out.

Four Cougars were named to the NAIA All-Tournament team: Payne (MVP), Duran, Andrea Alfiler, who had 3 goals in 4 tourney games, and Kerri Sparks, who played remarkable individual defense.

The title was the second women's soccer national championship won by a Golden State Athletic Conference school (Westmont won in 1985) and the first title won by any GSAC school since the Azusa Pacific men's track team won the 1996 NAIA National Indoor Championship.

Scoring by Periods
Simon Fraser             0   1  --   1
Azusa Pacific            1   1  --   2

GOALS:  Payne (AP), Carter (AP), Maglio (SFU)
ASSISTS:  Duran (AP), Payne (AP)
SAVES:  Yanos (AP) 3, Bruner SFU) 2
SHOTS:  APU 9, SFU 4
FOULS:  APU 9, SFU 5
CORNER KICKS:  APU 4, SFU 2