STOCKTON, Calif. – Behind the proverbial eight-ball most of the game, Azusa Pacific couldn't find its rhythm.
Pacific got off to a quick start then used a strong scoring spurt in the second half to post a 15-7 victory on Friday afternoon.
The 17th ranked Tigers fired off 32 total shots and forced Azusa Pacific into 21 turnovers in the win. The home team also held the Cougars to a 0-for-5 effort during their extra-person attack chances.
With 4:39 left in the first quarter, Karolina Hlavata gave the Tigers a seemingly comfortable 4-1 lead. However, the Cougars responded with goals by Mar Pastor and Annalise Batcheller to bring their deficit down to just one goal. Batcheller's goal came with just one tick left on the clock.
Azusa Pacific's momentum was pushed aside in the second period. Despite firing off six shots, two of which hit the post, the Cougars were held scoreless as Pacific scored three goals in the period to take a 7-3 at the game's intermission point.
A five-meter penalty shot goal by Alba Espinar started the period and cut the Tigers lead to 7-4 with 5:53 left in the third stanza. However, that three-goal spread was as close as Azusa Pacific would get. The home team proceeded to score five straight goals to take a 12-4 lead. A Megan Myers net finder with 4:38 left in the contest stop the scoring spree.
Myers continuing her scoring as she scored Azusa Pacific's final two goals to record a hat trick. Pastor also recorded a mutli-goal game with two. Espinar and Batcheller rounded out the goal scorers for the Cougars.
