COSTA MESA – Men's soccer aimed to regain form in Wednesday's fixture against Azusa Pacific but could not complete the job after late misses and an 87^th minute APU equalizer hindered their hopes of capturing all three points. The Blue and Gold drop points in two straight matches, moving to 6-4-3, 4-4-1, with their Pacific West Conference lead atop the table shaved down to one point.  The Cougars shift to 4-6-3, 3-1-2 as both programs draw for just the fifth time in the fixture's history (28-15-5 APU) and first time in 25 years (2-2 October 4, 2000).

Both teams were identical in shots per half, total shots (10), shots on goal (3), and saves (2). Their sole separation was split narrowly in corner kicks (5-3 APU) and fouls (15-14 VU).

The Lions are now 1-0-3 on their home field, surrendering two of their three home goals conceded in the final three minutes of matches. The 87^th minute goal for APU also marked the fifth set-piece goal conceded by Vanguard in the last four games and seventh overall on the season.

What Happened? VU's first time hosting APU since 2011 began with a Robert Ronco strike inside the opening five minutes. Ronco was active down the flanks, turning his man before sending a firm effort down the right side of the net, forcing an APU save at the near post.

Momentum never truly favored either side in the first 45 minutes, with VU searching for counterattacks, while the Cougars created chances in possession.

Despite their game plan of steady possession, both of APU's true chances came from near costly errors by the Lions. VU gave the ball away twice in a three-minute span, once from a miskicked dead ball from defense, and another from a mistimed clearance out the back.

APU operated with an open goal to aim at on both occasions, but much to Aidan Hay and the Lions' relief, were unable to punish the early VU mishaps.

The half seemed destined to finish 0-0 before the introduction of Connor McCoy into the Vanguard ranks. McCoy marched on the pitch and created a goalscoring threat less than two minutes from his introduction as the senior made a lung-busting run up the field between the Cougar defense.

Anthony Medina spotted the run, placing a perfectly weighted through ball through ball into McCoy. With his first taking him through on goal, McCoy was quickly taken down, as a late Cougar challenge resulted in a VU penalty kick in the 42^nd minute.

His second spot-kick in as many games, Adan Alvardo sent the keeper the wrong way to roll VU in front at the break. It was Alvarado's team high fifth goal of the season and 12th point overall.

Though both sides shot six times in the second half, control of the match was undoubtedly with the Cougars in the second frame. They kept the majority of the ball and slowly utilized the gaps out wide to advance up the pitch as a unit. VU themselves struggled immensely with fouls, committing nine in the half to grant the Cougars golden looks on goal, which would later contribute to the VU collapse.

Vanguard's first chance of the half was created by a clever turn from Bryan Ortiz, as the freshman whipped a cross to the front post that was narrowly missed by Ronco. APU had four of the game's next six shots, with a large portion taken outside the box, and none found the frame.

With 10 minutes to play, VU had their eyes glued to all three points. The game, however, was in for a wild finish to flip the fortune on its head.

In the 82nd minute, VU linked up through the right wing with an advancing Ben Sieber. The ball was swung hard and low through the Cougar defense, but the on-waiting Medina could not convert on the tap-in at the back post.

Two minutes later, the Lions were sweeping the ball around the APU penalty box in search of an opening. Alvarado carved a gap of his own, cruising away his man and blasting the ball past the keeper as it clipped the underside of the crossbar and spat out of the frame.

Three minutes after their near equalizer, the Lions gave up another free kick deep on their side of the pitch. The set piece proved one too many, as a gorgeous APU cross was ripped through the defense and nodded in at the back post for Leke Ademola's 87^th minute equalizer.

VU managed two more opportunities to pull out the win, but neither could save the result. Alvarado tried from distance after weaving past a defender but was once again denied by the crossbar. Ronco had the final kick on in the dying moments, after a one-on-one to win the game was saved at the death by the APU keeper.

What's Next? The Lions search to regroup against rivals Westmont on October 29 at 3:15 pm.