HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to Azusa Pacific on Monday at Saint Louis Field.
A four-and-a-half minute span proved to be the difference in the match, thanks to the Cougars' corner kicks.
The Silverswords fell to 6-4-4 overall and 4-2-2 in the Pacific West Conference while Azusa Pacific improved to 7-4-4 and 4-1-2 in the conference.
On APU's third corner kick of the match, the ball found its way to Damaris Lopez whose header clanked off the crossbar at the 40th minute which began a crazy sequence of events. The ball rebounded back to Lopez whose second header a second later was knocked away by Chaminade goalkeeper
Naomi Takata (Honolulu/Pearl City). However, the third time proved to be the charm for the Cougars as Sophia Emerson headed the ball just seconds after Lopez's second header that just cleared the bar for the game's first score.
Just under four minutes later, another APU corner kick led to Madison Woodward's header that also just got over the outstretched fingers of Takata and, like their first goal, just snuck under the crossbar.
The 'Swords were able to reverse the corners advantage, taking five in the second half but were unable to duplicate the Cougars' luck.
Chaminade's best scoring chance came off the foot of
Gracie Knowd (Ramona, Calif./New Mexico State/Ramona HS) who's shot just inside the box was knocked away by APU goalkeeper Maddie Williams in the 58th minute.
The 'Swords managed six shots, one each from Knowd, her sister,
Madelynne Knowd (Ramona, Calif./Ramona),
Haley Mo'okini (San Gabriel, Calif./Gabrielino),
Delaney Buntin (Vail, Ariz./Pima CC/Cienega HS),
Savannah Breeze Miranda (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Aiea) and
Kylie Ifuku (Honolulu/Kaiser).
Takata made three saves while Williams had one.
The Silverswords will face eighth-ranked Concordia University Irvine on Thursday with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff at the Saint Louis Field pitch.
