AZUSA, Calif. -- Vanguard women's soccer squared off against Azusa Pacific for the first time since 2011, as both teams looked to snap their two-game losing streaks. The Cougars emerged with the three points, as first-half goals from Sophia Emerson and Avery Guiel were the recipe for a 2-0 result over VU at the Cougar Soccer Complex. The Lions endured their third straight defeat to drop to 2-7, 1-4 in conference play. The Cougars moved to 6-2-1, 2-2 in the Pacific West Conference.

Vanguard established a more structured foothold in the second half, as they outshot APU 6-2 and created four of their six corner kicks. However, despite peppering the Cougar backline, the Blue and Gold were unable to find an equalizer, as they were held without a shot on goal for the first time this season. Both teams had seven shots in the match despite the imbalance of shots on goal. In what proved to be a physical match, APU had 17 fouls to VU's 13.
 
What Happened? The match opened with an early goal inside five minutes after Azusa Pacific set up camp for a free kick. APU, who have been dominant from set pieces this season, showed their coordination, as two Cougars walled off the angle of the ball and then split away at the last minute, giving Faith Krouse room to disguise her run-up. Krouse drove the ball over the wall and into the crossbar, which then ricocheted down off the bar and into the path of the crashing Cougars. Emerson was the earliest to get her head to it, as she claimed her first goal of the season.

The Lions conceded their second goal after a Cougar attack broke through the right wing in the 29th minute. Guiel cut inside from the right touchline and then dribbled diagonally toward the goal. Her strike came as she reached the right edge of the box and she beamed the ball toward the near post. Jordin Holmquist-Wilder sprawled to the left to get two hands to it, but Guiel's power was enough to send the ball to the back of the net.

In the 34th minute, Hailey Garvin ripped a shot from outside the box, which rattled against the right post. It was VU's only shot of the half, as APU outshot Vanguard 5-1 in the first interval. The Blue and Gold were more fluid in the second half, as they enjoyed a sturdy spell of possession through minutes 60-80. VU applied pressure with a corner kick in the 64th minute as Audrey Swanis and Sydney Powell fired shots two seconds apart. The Cougars were able to block the effort of Swanis and the followup from Powell produced another corner kick. That cross saw the ball fall for Kennedy Cypher in the left side box, but her strike fired off the wrong side of the netting.
 
VU came close with a free kick in the 67th minute as Rachel Penick pelted one against the Cougar crossbar. Garvin tried again later on from a similar angle to her shot in the first half, but the ball rose over the bar and out of harm's way. The Cougars weathered the final VU wave, as shot from Alyssa Fong from 20 yards out just missed over the bar in the 79th minute.
 
What's Next? The Lions will take their week to prepare for a strong Hawaii Hilo side, as they host the Vulcans on Saturday, October 19, at 1:30 p.m.