AZUSA, Calif. — After finding itself trailing at halftime, Cal Poly Pomona scored two second-half goals to grab an upset 3-2 victory over No. 5-ranked Azusa Pacific University on Wednesday night at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
The Broncos improve to 2-2-1 with one game left before conference action. The Cougars drop to 2-1-1 with their first loss of the season.
CPP out-shot APU 8-to-3 in the first half, but only walked away with one goal in the opening 45 minutes.
Paul Henschke put the Broncos on the board first, knocking in a goal in the 10
th minute of action, his team-leading fifth of the season.
APU responded with goals in the 35
th and 38
th minutes to take a 2-1 lead into halftime.
The Broncos earned a corner kick in the 59
th minute and a minute later
Estuardo Zecena found
Eduardo Faria in scoring position to even things up, 2-2.
Faria got in on the attack again in the 81
st minute, this time grabbing an assist.
Max Laguna fired a left-footer and bent it into the right side of the net to put the Broncos in front with just under 10 minutes left to play.
The Cougars tried to find an equalizer but CPP held on for the upset victory.
The Broncos are now 4-8-3 all-time against opponents ranked in the Top 5 of the United Soccer Coaches Division II Coaches' Poll. The last win over a Top 5 opponent came against No. 4 Simon Fraser in a NCAA Tournament match on Nov. 10, 2018 in Seattle, Wash. CPP went on to the Final Four in Pittsburgh that year, but stumbled in the semifinals.
CPP hosts Cal State L.A. next Saturday (Sept. 25th) for a non-conference game, kicking off at 7:00 p.m.
