COLUMBIA, Ky. -- The top-ranked Lindsey Wilson College women's soccer team suffered their first loss in two years with a 2-1 loss to No. 2-ranked Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University on Friday night in the KELME Classic at Lindsey Wilson Park.
The Blue Raiders fall to 5-1-1 with the loss, while Azusa Pacific improves to 6-0-0 with the win.
The top two teams in the NAIA each had chances to score early in the match only to be turned away by the opposing goalkeepers. Lindsey Wilson put three shots on goal in the game's first 25 minutes only to be turned away each time by APU sophomore goalkeeper Jill Colfer. Colfer ended the night with five saves.
Azusa Pacific matched the Blue Raiders three shots in the opening 25 minutes only have a shot go wide and the other two stopped by Lindsey Wilson freshman goalkeeper
Mia Moeller. Moeller ended with three saves on the night.
But Moeller was unable to stop the fourth Azusa shot, as the Cougars capitalized on a Lindsey Wilson foul at the top of the penalty box for the game's first goal. Senior forward Shannon Coe scored her team-leading 10th goal of the season at the 30:01 mark off a free kick from 23 yards out to give the Cougars the 1-0 lead.
The two teams continued to play even the remainder of the half, as the score remained 1-0 at the break. Azusa led the shots in the opening half, out-shooting the Blue Raiders 6-4. The Cougars also had a distinct advantage on corner kicks, with a 5-1 advantage.
Azusa, who holds a 3-0-1 all-time record against the Blue Raiders, scored the game's second goal at the 54:12 mark as Coe fed junior forward Mari Kasamoto for the goal and the 2-0 lead. Kasamoto's goal slipped just by Moeller into the right side of the net for her third goal of the season.
Lindsey Wilson avoided being shutout for the first time this season with a goal at the 88:55 mark to cut the Azusa lead to 2-1. Junior midfielder
Hishamar Falconer netted her third goal of the season off junior defender
Rowena Alsanea's second assist.
Lindsey Wilson was unable to get a shot off in the final 1:05 and suffered just their third loss all-time under Burwash (49-3-7).
The loss ended the Blue Raiders 31-game unbeaten streak and their 35-game unbeaten streak.
Lindsey Wilson and Azusa each had nine shots for the game, with the Cougars holding a 9-6 corner kick advantage.
Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 24, as the Blue Raiders host No. 20-ranked Robert Morris (Ill.) College on the second day of the KELME Classic. Robert Morris upset No. 4-ranked Lee (Tenn.) University 2-1 in overtime in the opening game of the KELME Classic. Azusa and Lee will play at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday.
