Azusa Pacific’s soccer team fell 1-0 to Cal State LA (14-3-2) Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Cougars (14-3) entered the game with a 10-game winning streak, but were unable to pull off the win against the No. 14-ranked opponents.
The game’s first shot on goal came in the 56th minute when Azusa Pacific’s Caleb Candelaria had a header from about 10 yards that Golden Eagle goalie Mike Beigarten saved it easily.
The Golden Eagles had a great chance in the 60th minute with a free kick from Herbert Biste from 25 yards, but sophomore Cougar goalie Tyler Jaramillo blocked the ball from entering the net.
Golden Eagles’ Andre Bissmark scored the one and only goal of the game by finding the opportunity with the ball in the 65th minute. Bissmark took a dribble and placed the ball into the net for his fifth goal of the season. He was also the forward who scored two of the three goals against the Cougars in a matchup last year.
Keyran Kelly shot the ball in the 71st minute but it was caught by Beigarten.
Luke Ackermann was able to get close to goal, but Beigarten terminated the final scoring opportunity in the last two minutes.
The Cougars continued with an aggressive offense until the 90th minute.
“Our way is really difficult for other teams to try to figure out and break down,” said Cal State LA acting head coach Michael Jacobson. “We asked our guys to make it difficult to play against, and they did that tonight.”
Cal State LA will now advance to face Seattle Pacific in the playoffs for the third time in the past four years.
This game ended the Cougars’ season. “I’m really proud of the guys for this season,” head coach Dave Blomquist said.