IRVINE, Calif. - The CUI women's soccer team emerged victorious over the Azusa Pacific Cougars 2-1 in Saturday's non-conference overtime face off.

The Eagle and Cougar match up was intense from the start with both teams playing very physical in the first half. The Eagles racked up six shots to only one for APU in the opening period, but the Green and Gold also were whistled for more fouls (10 to six).

Isabella Angotti-Jones placed a ball up and Cienah Reed tracked it down right in front of the goal.  Reed then tapped it to Jadenn Carrillo who bobbled it briefly then back-kicked it right over the goalie into the net.  Angotti-Jones and Reed were both awarded with an assist and Carrillo earned her third goal on the season.  Reed really stepped up this game and was tracking down the ball left and right putting forth all the hustle she had to make movement towards the Cougar's goal.

Continuing into the first half, the Eagles back line maintained their solid reputation in the first half as Danni Barton, Angotti-Jones, Molly Melanson, and Gabby Breton limited the Cougars to just one shot.  The squad also continued to control the ball and was getting great looks at the goal.

Mariana Maldonado had a shot that would have went right under the top of the goal post, but the Cougar goalie was able to get there just in time to punch it over.  This set up a corner kick where Kara Gilchrist was able to get a header off, but it fell just short on the right-hand side goal post and bounced out.  Shortly after another corner kick got set up, Melanson tried to head it into the net as well but it went just over the goal post. 

Heading into the second half, the Eagles looked to stay aggressive as Analisa Gjonovich booted two shots from far out, about 15 yards from the midfield line, and the Cougar goalie was able to punch it out on the first attempt.  On the second shot Gjonovich was just wide left.   

With 16 minutes left in regulation, the Cougars were able to break through and convert to make it 1-1.  As time continued to crunch down, both teams looked to get more aggressive and make plays happen.  CUI goalkeeper Kaelyn Whitcomb utilized her skills and was making some great saves towards the end of the game to deny the Cougars from scoring again.  The teams headed into overtime hoping to find the net one more time.

"I think that throughout the whole game we kind of set the tone and it was unfortunate that they came back with the goal," stated Gjonovich, "but we knew that it was our game to win and we took advantage of that."

Two minutes into the overtime Carrillo takes a shot and it got blocked to Gjonovich.  Gjonovich traced the ball down and slid to kick the ball past the defender and straight into the goal.  This was Gjonovich's first goal and make that a Golden Goal at that. 

"I was super excited about it, but it would not have happened if everyone did not put forth their effort and everyone was going for the ball," said Gjonovich.

The Eagle family got to celebrate Coach Chris Gould's birthday with a win over Azusa Pacific.

"Historically this is a program that we have not had much success against and I think that the past two or three times we have managed to come out with a win," said Gould. "So for us, it is really encouraging on the direction of where our program is going."

The Eagles battled hard throughout the entire game and the effort and enthusiasm they show for one another is what helps make this team so great.

"Just look at the way our team went about playing for one another, it makes us a tough team to compete against and gives credit to who our girls are on and off the field and how they work for each other and represent the school" says Gould.

The Concordia University Irvine women's soccer team looks to keep this momentum going as they play the next five games on the road.  Wednesday, Oct. 2 they face Biola at 4 p.m. for a non-conference match up.  The next time to catch these flying Eagles at home is on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. against Chaminade. 

For the full CUI women's soccer schedule click here.