Thomas (Ga.) 1
MT. BERRY, Ga. -- Azusa Pacific head coach Phil Wolf was hoping at the very worst to get a split this weekend in Georgia. Against 2 solid NAIA programs—Berry, which played in last year’s NAIA semifinals and Thomas, a highly-touted team coming into this season, the Cougars were looking at this weekend’s twinbill as a stepping stone to get to the next level.
Mission accomplished.
Two-time All-GSAC Ian Leibbrandt scored twice, including one just 16 minutes into the contest to lift Azusa Pacific to another impressive 3-1 win over Thomas (Ga.) on the campus of Berry University in Mt. Berry, Ga., Saturday.
With the sweep this weekend, the Cougars improve to 4-0 on the season for the first time since the 1996 team began its campaign 5-0 with ironically included back-to-back wins against traditional NAIA powers.
The Cougars showed no signs of a hangover from yesterday’s stellar 2-1 double-overtime win over No. 17-ranked Berry (Ga.) as Leibbrandt got things started at the 15:50 mark on an assist by Jordan Saxman.
Just 2 minutes later, Skelly Kellar scored an unassisted tally to give the Cougars an insurmountable 2-0 lead.
Leibbrandt then gave the Cougars an insurance goal in the 62nd minute on an assist by Kris Van Houten to put the Cougars up 3-0.
Junior Morgan Cathey collected 7 saves and other than allowing a Thomas score in the 75th minute played admirably between the pipes. The Cougars outshot Thomas, 25-14.
