In their previous 10 match-ups with California Baptist, Azusa Pacific has never come out as the victor. That all change on Thursday evening as the Cougars posted a 9-8 win over their rivals.

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"That was our most complete game of the season. We played well for all four quarter. I have nothing but good things to say about our effort today," said head coach Julie Snodgrass. "It is nice to finally get a win against them. They are Azusa Pacific's tradition rival and to knock them off for the first time and to play as well as we did, it is a little extra special."

Alba Espinar led the charge in Thursday's win by scoring five goals. It is the freshman's 10th multi-goal game of the season as she raises her 2015 total to 35. 

Katie Margot played a huge role in front of the cage as she blocked away 12 shots, including a five-meter attempt in the second half, to aid in the triumph. 

Azusa Pacific started well as they raced out to a 3-1 lead five minutes into the game. The Lancers (17-11, 0-2 Golden Coast Conference) responded with three unanswered goals to finish the frame. Hannah Evans scored three times for the visitors in the opening eight minutes as she helped her team to a 4-3 lead.

Each team had their opportunities in the second quarter. Espinar scored the only goal of the period when she found the back of the cage on the extra person attack with 5:36 left until halftime. California Baptist had an extra person attack at the period's midway point but could not convert.

A nearly 10 minute scoring draught came to an end when Evans scored her fourth goal of game with 4:22 left in the third quarter. The Lancers took a 5-4 lead after the goal; it was their last lead of the game. 

Azusa Pacific was able to lance the Lancers for a major portion of the game's next 10 minutes. Despite their one-goal deficit, the Cougars (9-12, 2-2) scored three of the final four goals in the period to take a 7-6 lead heading into the final eight minutes.

Just 27 ticks into the final stanza, Ashley Taylor gave her team an 8-6 lead. The Cougars defense stood tall as they kept California Baptist off the scoreboard and halted two extra person attacked by the Lancers. Espinar scored her final goal of the day with 3:14 left in the regulation as Azusa Pacific took a comfortable 9-6 lead.

The Lancers continued to press offensively as they got a Evans goal with 34 seconds left then a Jessica Castellano five-meter goal with six seconds left. However, the Cougars were able to salt away the game's final moments.