UCSD Women Nip APU in Double Overtime

September 12, 2014

LA JOLLA, Calif. - Izzy Pozurama’s goal at 101:08 of double overtime gave the UC San Diego women’s soccer team the dramatic, come-from-behind 2-1 triumph over Azusa Pacific University in its home opener Thursday at Triton Soccer Stadium.

With the result, UCSD improved to 2-1 on the year. Azusa Pacific, the reigning Pacific West Conference champion and preseason league favorite, dropped to 0-4. The teams had not met since a 1-1 draw in La Jolla in 1999, during the Tritons’ final season in the NCAA Division III. The programs are now West Region rivals in Division II.

Just over a minute into the second and final extra session, Sophia Hyver’s flick fell to the foot of fellow freshmanJordyn McNutt. The San Diego product out of University City High School then lifted a ball over the top down the right side of the field. Pozurama ran onto it, took a couple of touches to beat her defender, and slid her shot into the far netting for her second goal in as many matches.

McNutt had earlier provided the assist on Hyver’s first collegiate goal to draw even at the 82:55 mark, as her corner kick was headed in at the far post by the Los Altos native. McNutt now has four assists already this season in just three contests.

APU opened the scoring in the 74th minute, the Cougars finding the back of the opposing net for only the first time on the year through Mayra Almazan. Haley Williamson played the ball to Lindsey Ryals, whose left-sided cross was tapped in from close range by her junior teammate.

An Almazan effort back in the first half of a scoreless game came off of the underside of the crossbar and was kept out.

Freshman midfielder Aimee Ellis had arguably the best chance to score for UCSD over the first 45 minutes, her header looking destined for the upper left corner before being cleared off of the goal line by a Cougar defender in the 30th.

APU came close to grabbing the lead earlier through senior midfielder Amanda Hardy in the 68th minute, if not for a difficult save by Triton goalie Kelcie Brodsky. The Cougars had two golden opportunities to steal the win in the first overtime, but Hardy went wide to the left and Logan Chan’s attempt was denied by Brodsky.

Brodsky finished with four saves in goal for the Tritons. Sophomore counterpart Sarah Klinkenberg made five stops for Azusa Pacific.

UCSD held a narrow 18-17 shot advantage.

UCSD awaits another top-rated PacWest foe in California Baptist this Saturday, Sept. 13. Kickoff at Triton Soccer Stadium is set for 7 p.m.

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