Playing their second of seven Golden Coast Conference games, Azusa Pacific held an early lead only to see Santa Clara rebound for an 8-5 win on Friday evening.

Scoresheet (PDF)

In a game that featured five penalty shot opportunities, with only one successfully converted, the Cougars held the lead through a majority of the first half but a plus-four goal margin in the last 16 minutes proved to be the difference.

After Santa Clara scored the first goal of the game, Azusa Pacific got two unanswered goals from Alba Espinar and Megan Myers. The Cougars never trailed again during the first two quarters. Despite the Broncos tying the game late in the first quarter, Britt Harris gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead after the first frame.

Espinar stretched that lead to 4-2 on a five-meter penalty shot with 3:48 left in the second quarter. Santa Clara scored the last net-finder of the period as the visitors began to build momentum.

Down 4-3 entering the third stanza, the Broncos won the period by 3-1 count as they took a one-goal lead (6-5) into the last eight minutes. In that third quarter, Azusa Pacific got their final goal of the game from Harris.

Santa Clara scored the only two goals of the fourth quarter during the first four minutes. Despite being shutout in the frame, the Cougars put four shots on frame but Sydni Estrella made the saves on each attempt.

For the game the Cougars peppered Estrella with 21 total shots on net but she made four saves in each quarter to aid in the visitors win.