SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Cougars closed out their season opening trip at the UC Santa Barbara Invitational with a two contest against two more top 25 programs.
Less than 24 hours from playing a pair of nationally ranked teams, Azusa Pacific competed against UC San Diego and UC Irvine on Saturday.
#21 UC San Diego 15, Azusa Pacific 7
Alba Espinar posted her third straight hat trick but the Tritons were able to find the back of the net during the early going to aid in their victory.
UC San Diego scored the game's first three goals less than three minutes into the game. Britt Harris scored the Cougars first goal with 1:40 left in the quarter. However, the Tritons took some of their momentum back as they scored on the extra-person attacked with one second left in the frame.
An Espinar goal early in the second quarter put the Cougars within striking distance but UC San Diego was able to control the final minutes of the stanza by scoring four straight. The Tritons took an 8-2 edge at the halfway point.
The scoring run for UC San Diego continued into the third quarter by scoring the first three goals in the third period. Azusa Pacific got goals from Espinar and Annalise Batcheller got the Cougars deficit down to 11-4 but the Tritons scored in the closing seconds for the third straight period to increase their lead back to eight goals.
The final eight minutes saw each team score three times with Espinar, Ashley Taylor and Mar Pastor scoring for the Cougars.
Despite failing behind by five goals after the first period the Cougars made a comeback in the second quarter. Facing a five-goal deficit, Azusa Pacific scored three straight to start the second eight minutes of action to get right back into the contest. However, UC Irvine finished the frame with two goals to take a 7-3 lead at intermission.
Scoresheet(PDF)
The Anteaters were able to grab control of the contest with a 7-2 scoring edge in the third quarter. Azusa Pacific continued to put forth a solid effort in the final eight minutes as they won the final quarter by a 5-1 margin.
Leading the way for the Cougars was Alba Espinar who tallied her fourth straight hat trick. Annalise Batcheller also put together a three-goal effort in just her fourth collegiate contest.
