Next Game:
Lewis & Clark (Ore.)
9/5/2026 | 7:00 PM
Sep. 05 (Sat) / 7:00 PM
Lewis & Clark (Ore.)
AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific’s women’s soccer team showed no signs of rust in its adjustment to Division III, defeating new SCIAC rival La Verne by a 2-0 final to open the 2026 season Tuesday night at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
While there was a lengthy feeling-out process in the early minutes, the Cougars slowly took control of the game — first in possession, and eventually in most of the statistical categories. But the scoreboard did not reflect that until the closing moments of the first half.
With two minutes left before intermission, the Cougars earned a corner kick. When the clearance attempt by the Leopards satyed in the box, Julia Galdamez ran onto the ball and drew a penalty kick. Maylin Salazar stepped to the spot and tucked the ball in the upper-right corner to score the Cougars’ first goal in Division III.
Just three minutes into the secondd half, the Cougars doubled their advantage. Regaining possession in the offensive half off a high press, Isabella Santa Maria sent a long shot in from the left wing. The La Verne keeper made the save, but teh rebound spilled straight to Lauren Grissom, who sent it home with her left foot to make the score 2-0.
The second half turned physical, and by the end of the night the two teams had combined for seven yellow cards. But the Cougar defense held, limiting the Leopards to a single shot on goal all night, which freshman keeper Paloma Platas turned aside for her first collegiate shutout.
In all, the cougars outshot La Verne 16-2, including a 9-1 edge in shots on target, and the damage to the scoreboard could have been even greater had the Cougars not had a pair of attempts later in the second half clang off the goalposts.
Ariana Rivera had a team-high four shot attempts, with three of them on goal. In all, 18 Cougars saw action during this season-opening victory.
Azusa Pacific (1-0) will return to the Cougar Soccer Complex for its next contest Saturday night against Lewis & Clark. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.