COSTA MESA -- The Lions' first NCAA DII win over a ranked opponent came against #25 Azusa Pacific, with a 2-0 result at VU Soccer Field to secure the biggest upset of the Pacific West Conference season so far. The Blue and Gold became the first team to beat the Cougars in conference play, snapping the league leaders' 10-game PacWest win streak dating back to October 21, 2024. VU also put two goals past the sixth-best defense in the nation, marking just the second time the Cougars have conceded two goals in a single game this season.

Dishing out the goals were Rachel Penick and Hailey Garvin, with Penick firing in the opener in the third minute and Garvin sealing the win in the 66th minute of play. Penick's goal places her joint second in the conference with five goals and stamps goals in back-to-back games for the midfielder for the first time since 2022.

The Lions claim the upset over APU, improving to 4-7-1, 2-4 in the conference. The result is also their first win against the Cougars since 2008, and their first home win against APU since September 1996. Azusa Pacific (8-2-3, 5-1), meanwhile, tastes defeat for the first time in the PacWest this year and first time since their season opened on September 4 at Cal Poly Pomona.

What Happened? Azusa Pacific's 11-game unbeaten run was put into question just three minutes from kickoff, after Penick's opening goal. The senior received the ball from the left wing, created a gap, and lashed one toward the frame. APU's Alexia Muniz, the nation's leader in save percentage (.912) seemed set for the save in net but misjudged the flight of the ball, as the airborne strike slipped her palms for the 1-0 Vanguard lead.

The goal was Vanguard's quickest of the campaign and marked the first time APU conceded in the first half this season.

Azusa Pacific tried shaking off the shock with two straight shots, with one free header missed at the back post and the other shot calling for Josselyne Navarrete's first save of the game in the eighth minute. The sophomore keeper would go on to make four stops in the match to earn her first career shutout.

Her best stop of the day was just five minutes later in the 13th minute. APU sent a free kick, which was initially cleared by VU but was soon recycled to the other wing for the Cougars. The cross came square across the face of the goal, with a firm connection with an APU cleat at point-blank range. Navarrete denied the chance with razor-sharp reactions, darting to the bottom left corner to brush off APU's best chance of the half.

The Lions' maintained their boisterous energy from kickoff through the remainder of the first frame. They created two more efforts on goal, starting with a 30th-minute shot outside the box from Penick, which was placed down the middle for Muniz to save.

Francesca Lindstrom had the last Lion look in the first 45, after her run between the Cougar concave left her through on goal. Positioned at the left side of the box, Lindstrom ran onto the ball to adjust for the best shooting angle. Her strike was cracked off her left boot and missed just wide at the bottom right post.

Vanguard played on the back foot for the opening phase of the second half, getting outshot 6-1 in the first 15 minutes of the period as APU sliced the woodwork in the 65th minute. VU's defenses, however, were reinforced by standout performances from Audrey Swanis and Hannah Caira to keep the Cougars in check.

The visitors came close after a cross from the right wing dropped in the VU 18-yard box. Navarrete raced off her line but couldn't connect completely with the ball, resulting in an awkward deflection off a VU defender which carried the ball to an open VU net. Caira came to the rescue with a last-ditch tackle to steer the ball off the line and avoid giving APU an outlet off a potential own goal.

Luckily, the Lions rerouted the pressure with a goal in the 66th minute. Penick started the move with a well-taken corner kick as the cross curved toward Sydney Powell. The VU striker was unable to get her shot off as APU swarmed for a block, but the clearance was only as far as Garvin. Nestled at the top of the box, Garvin glanced the ball from her right foot over to her left and laced the strike into the back of the net to shoot the hosts up 2-0.

Azusa Pacific's desperate fight to get back in the match never manifested on the scoresheet. The Cougars took the last four shots of the game, only testing Navarrete once as the Blue and Gold broke the league leaders' 11-game unbeaten streak for the upset of the season.

What's Next? VU will hope to build form as they clash with Westmont in Santa Barbara on October 29 at 12:30 pm.