Eight games into the 18-game regular-season schedule, the 2013 PacWest Champions and 2014 preseason favorites are now 0-2 in conference and 2-6 overall.
Opening up their campaign against a series of four teams who competed in the NCAA tournament last season, including the Final Four’s Western Washington, the Cougars’ 0-4 start was not alarming.
In fact, two consecutive wins leading up to the start of conference play hushed any lingering questions.
That was, however, until the team dropped its first two PacWest matches to Point Loma (0-1) and Hawaii Pacific (1-3).
Despite a 106-71 advantage in shots taken against opponents this season, Azusa Pacific has produced just five goals and been shut out on four occasions. Having returned 93 percent of the team’s scoring from last season, the reason for this disparity in offensive production remains unclear.
Additionally, sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Klinkenberg has allowed 11 goals in these eight games, one more than the total in her 20-game freshman season. This can be attributed to the pressure the team has experienced in the defensive third since graduating three starters off the back-line in 2013.
Whatever the case, 10 games lie ahead for the team; with just two conference games under its belt, a turnaround is still within reach.