AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific scored twice in the first half as the 13th-ranked Western Washington University men’s soccer team suffered its first defeat of the season, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
The Vikings (3-1), playing their fourth consecutive road game to begin the regular season, concluded their second California trip of the year 1-1 after a 2-1 win at Point Loma on Thursday. Azusa Pacific improved to 3-1 with its second consecutive win following a 3-2 win against Seattle Pacific on Thursday.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead over WWU in the 19th minute as James Ndubueze was able to get a redirect touch to a low shot from outside the box by Arturo Astorga that found the net. Ndubueze’s touch to the shot near the top of the box redirected the ball away from redshirt freshman goalkeeper Brandon Wolter (Vancouver, WA/Union), who dove in anticipation of Astorga’s strike.
Azusa Pacific increased its lead to 2-0 during the 26th minute when Gregoire Diep scored on a well-placed free kick, sending a shot from 20 yards away over the WWU wall and into the upper-left corner of the net.
The Cougars came close to increasing their lead later in the half with a shot saved and deflected off the post. Another free kick for Azusa Pacific caromed off the post as well. But overall, both defenses did well to limit promising opportunities in the contest.
WWU, with three comebacks from a two-goal deficit to tie or win since the start of 2017 – including a 4-3 overtime win in the season opener at Sonoma State – was unable complete the comeback on Saturday. The Vikings lost by a deficit of greater than one goal for just the second time since the start of 2017.
“Azusa is very good, they have a lot of quality attacking players,” head coach Greg Brisbon said. “Like I told the guys, it was too many little mistakes that we made today and we got punished for those. The deflection goal for the first one, and a great free kick by them for the second one – that was the difference and other than that, we both didn’t have too many other great chances to score.”
Azusa Pacific held a 7-4 advantage in total shots and a 5-4 edge in shots on goal for the game.
Stephen Jinneman (Sr., D, Redmond, WA), Drew Barker (Sr., F, Tacoma, WA/Bellarmine Prep), Taylor Allen (Jr., F, Russellville, AR) and Drew Farnsworth (So., F, Auckland, New Zealand/Westlake Boys) were each credited with a shot on goal for the Vikings.
Wolter finished with 3 saves for the Vikings while Azusa Pacific goalkeepers Brendan Fix, who played the first 18:10 before leaving the game with an injury, and Nathanael Linquist each made 2 saves for the Cougars.
The 13th-ranked Vikings return home with a 3-1 record after four games in California, hosting Hawai’i Hilo and Hawai’i Pacific next week for the first home games of the season. Saturday’s loss snapped a 3-0-0 start that was the program’s best win streak start since a 3-0-0 start to the 2000 season.
“It was a fantastic two-week road trip, to come away 3-1 out of the opponents that we played,” Brisbon said. “Obviously, 4-0 would have been great, but 3-1 is really good as well. So we have to keep that in mind, we set ourselves up really well in the non-conference so far and so now we have to keep at it.”
The home opener will be Tuesday night at 7 pm against Hawai’i Hilo.
“A tough opponent next Tuesday, they haven’t played a game yet and so it’s going to be difficult for us with the amount of reps we have,” Brisbon said. “But we’re ready to face that challenge and to get back home in Bellingham at Harrington Field with a home game at night, we’re excited.”
