In their final game of the season, Azusa Pacific scratched and clawed until the end but came up short against Santa Clara 13-9 during the final day of the Golden Coast Conference tournament.

Despite not taking the lead during the game, the Cougars stayed within striking distance but a six-goal game from Elizabeth Anderson provided a huge boost for the Broncos.

Tournament Central

Azusa Pacific fired off 30 total shots, 23 of which were on net, while Santa Clara got off 34 and found the frame on 27 occasions. Both teams goalies were busy. Katie Margot made 14 saves in her final collegiate contest. Santa Clara's Francesca Puccinelli also blocked the same number of shots.

Each team was called from nine exclusions and both sides had moderate success on the extra-person attached. Azusa Pacific scored twice and one on a five-meter chance. The Broncos scored three times on the extra-person opportunity and also scored on a five-meter opportunity.

Santa Clara continued to stay on goal ahead of the Cougars as the game flowed along in the early going until late in the second quarter. A Maryann Slama goal with 3:44 left until halftime brought the Cougars within 5-4 but three unanswered goals proved by Santa Clara proved critical. Megan Myers scored the final goal of the second frame as the Broncos held an 8-5 lead with 16 minutes remaining.

After Anderson nudged her team in front 9-5, Myers and Slama teamed up on the Cougars sixth goal in an attempt to cut the Cougars deficit closer. However, the Broncos were able to keep Azusa Pacific at bay the rest of the way. Azusa Pacific couldn't get closer than that three-goal spread.

Down the stretch Santa Clara was able to increase their lead to five goals on three separate occasions. Despite second half goals from Myers, Alba Espinar and Alex Paxton the Cougars couldn't bridge the gap.

Both Myers and Espinar had a team best three goals.