SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The 2015 campaign begins this weekend for the Azusa Pacific water polo team at the UCSB Winter Invitational.
UCSB Winter Invitational Homepage
The Cougars are set to play four games in two days with three of the contests coming against nationally ranked teams (#14 UCSB, #4 Cal, #5 Arizona State).
Game 1 – #14 UC Santa Barbara 16, Azusa Pacific 1
The host Gauchos scored the only goal of the first period with 3:45 left in the frame. During the stanza each team fired five shots.
The low scoring game was broke open by UC Santa Barbara during the second eight minutes of action as they found the back of the net on four occasions to take a 5-0 lead at the halfway point.
UC Santa Barbara scored three unanswered goals to start the third period as they upped their edge to 8-8. Azusa Pacific first goal of the season came when Courtney Folsom scored on a pass from Alba Espinar with 3:37 left in the third quarter.
Unfortunately the Cougars they couldn't find the back of the cage the rest of the way as UC Santa Barbara came away with the win.
Game 2 - # 4 Cal 24, Azusa Pacific 5
The first eight minutes of the game may end up being the highest scoring of any quarter the Cougars play this season. Despite trailing 5-0, Azusa Pacific scored three of the next four goals to pull within 6-3 with 35 ticks left on the clock. However, the Bears were able to score the final goal of the 10-goal frame with eight seconds left.With that 7-3 lead, Cal rode that momentum into the early minutes of the second quarter as they scored four straight to start the stanza. Taylor Whitney's third goal of the game with 2:07 remaining until halftime briefly stopped the Cal offense. The Bears went into the five minute midway break by scoring three straight as they took a 14-4 lead.
The perennial national title contenders continued their solid offensive effort by outscoring the Cougars 6-1 in the third period then went onto score the only four goals of the final period. Maryann Slama scored Azusa Pacific's second half goal.
Game 3 - # 5 Arizona State 16, Azusa Pacific 8
The Cougars couldn't overcome a slow start as the Sun Devils came away with the win.
Arizona State won the first period 6-1 and rode the early momentum to victory despite a resiant effort by the Cougars. Despite the deficit, Azusa Pacific scored three of the first four goals in the second period. Alex Paxxton start the second stanza scoring for the Cougars. Her efforts were followed by Alba Espinar and Maryann Slama as Azusa Pacific was down 7-4 with 3:41 left in the period. Unfortunately the Sun Devils regrouped and scored three straight as they went ahead 10-4 at the break.
Arizona State scored the first goal of the third frame before net-finders by Courtney Folsom and Megan Myers put the Cougars down 11-6. However, the Sun Devils proceeded to score the game's next five goals to put to rest any hopes of an Azusa Pacific comeback.
Myers scored twice to pace the Azusa Pacific scoring.
Game 4 – Azusa Pacific 13, Sonoma State 6
In the weekend's final game the Cougars overcame an early deficit before cruising to their first win of the season.
After Sonoma State took a 2-1 lead with 4:16 left in the period, Azusa Pacific offense took over while their defense stepped up their game. Maryann Slama tied the score at 2-2 just 19 seconds later then Megan Myers gave the Cougars the lead for good with 2:58 left in the first period.
Azusa Pacific's built on their 3-2 lead by scoring the first two goals of the second period as Taylor Whitney and Alba Espinar tickled the twine. After the Seawolves interrupted the Azusa Pacific scoring run with a goal 3:30 left in the quarter. Whitney scored her second of six goals on the afternoon with 35 seconds left in the stanza as the Cougars took a 6-3 lead after 16 minutes.
The Cougars stretched their lead by outscoring Sonoma State 2-1 in the third quarter on goals by Whitney and Alex Paxton.
Any chance of a comeback by the Seawolves was put to the wayside as Azusa Pacific dominated the scoring column 5-2 in the final period.
Whitney's second hat trick of the weekend highlighted the Cougars offense. Espinar scored three times for her first hat trick in an Azusa Pacific suit.
Also of note for the Cougars offensive effort was Britt Harris's three-assist afternoon.
While the Seawolves were able to get off 23 total shots the Cougars defense, led by goalie Katie Margot were up to the task.
