AZUSA, Calif. — Occidental played Azusa Pacific to a 1-1 tie on Saturday at Cougar Soccer Complex.
Occidental withstood eight Azusa Pacific attacking actions during a first-half stretch from 24:38 to 36:19 without conceding, keeping the match scoreless at the end of that sequence. Occidental was outshot 12-6 but limited Azusa Pacific to three shots on goal, while each side scored once in the second half.
Occidental's kept Azusa Pacific scoreless through a sustained push in the 1st half, highlighted by
Casey Scott's save on Mario Shuteriqi's bottom-center shot at 34:53 amid a stretch in which the home side earned five corner kicks and took three shots from 24:38 to 36:19.
Earlier,
Dylan Penhoet supplied Occidental's shot in the seventh minute, sending an attempt wide left, and Occidental was whistled offside in the 11th minute as it looked to get forward.
The middle of the half became foul-heavy for Occidental, with
Brody Awaya,
Enzo Bernales and
Daniel Lee called for fouls between 9:06 and 20:38 and
Daniel Lee receiving a yellow card at 19:15. Occidental earned a corner kick at 38:28 and took a 0-0 score into halftime after
Diego Cavalie was shown a yellow card late in the half.
Gianni Simamora put Occidental in front in the 59th minute, scoring at 58:50 to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Earlier,
Angel Guzman kept Azusa Pacific off the board with a save on Alex Gomez Jr. at 54:28, and Occidental also created chances through Penhoet's shot and a corner before the breakthrough.
After the goal, Occidental had to absorb more pressure, including a shot off the left woodwork by Easton Jara, before building its own attacking stretch with three shots and two corners from 76:11 to 78:53. Azusa Pacific tied it in the 81st minute on Leke Ademola's goal from Mario Shuteriqi, and the match finished 1-1.
Occidental Top Performers
Gianni Simamora
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- one goal
- two points
- two shots, one on goal
Dylan Penhoet
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- three shots, one on goal
Casey Scott
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- one save
- no goals allowed in 45:00 in goal
Occidental is 3-2-2 overall and 1-0-1 in conference play. Azusa Pacific is 3-3-2 overall and 0-0-1 in conference play.
