SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The Azusa Pacific began the 2018 campaign at the always tough UC Santa Barbara Winter Invitational on Friday afternoon.

The Cougars began their four games in two-day event against Cal State Northridge and Fresno Pacific. The Invitational features nine teams ranked in the Collegiate Water Polo Association Top 25.

No. 21 Cal State Northridge 7, Azusa Pacific 6

Scoresheet (PDF)

The Cougars got on the scoreboard first when Britt Harris scored on a five-on-six opportunity with just under two minutes left in the opening period. The Matadors responded with a pair of goals by Shannon Hovanesian early in the second frame. Just a few seconds later, Britni Tisdale scored her first collegiate goal to tie the game at 2-2. However, Cal State Northridge took the lead the halfway point as Katelyn Fairchild found the back of the cage.

Another Fairchild goal gave her team a 4-2 edge during the early stages of the third quarter. Despite the deficit the Cougars responded immediately and tied the score in less than three minutes as Harris and Hannah Bradley scored. Less than a minute later, a Bradley goal with 3:48 left in the stanza gave Azusa Pacific a one-goal edge heading into he final eight minutes.

A roller coaster fourth quarter ensued. Amy Yule tied the score a minute into the frame then Bradley gave the Cougars the lead right back just 23 seconds later. The quick strikes continued when Fairchild tied the score at 6-6 after finding the back of the cage with 5:44 left in the contest. The game winning goal came with 3:40 remaining as Fairchild scored her fourth goal of the contest. Azusa Pacific had an extra attack opportunity late but couldn't convert.
 

	1	2	3	4	FINAL
Azusa Pacific	1	1	3	1	6
CSUN	0	3	1	3	7

GOALS: Bradley (3), Harris (2), Tisdale 
SAVES: Erica Marquez (8)

Azusa Pacific 16, Fresno Pacific 12

Scoresheet (PDF)

The Cougars rolled to a win against their former Golden Coast Conference foe. Azusa Pacific scored five of the first six goals and kept at least a two-goal lead throughout the victory.

A host of players score multiple goal led my Mar Pastors hat trick. Britni Tisdale scored a pair of goals for the second straight while fellow newcomer Hannah Bradley added a pair of net-finders as well. A pair of juniors - Annalise Batcheller and Arienne Yeo - each tickled the twine twice.

Azusa Pacific largest lead came just before the midway point of the third quarter when Batcheller made the score 13-6. Late in the final stanza the Sunbirds got their deficit down to 14-12 but goals from Pastor and Tisdale secured the win. 

The 16 goals represented the most for the Cougars since scoring 20 against Concordia during the 2016 season. 
 

	1	2	3	4	FINAL
Azusa Pacific	5	4	2	5	16
Fresno Pacific	2	2	2	6	12

GOALS: Pastor (3), Tisdale (2), Yeo (2), Bradley (2), Batcheller (2), Martinez, Adams, Joerke, Harris, Prince
SAVES: Olivia Lott (5), Erica Marquez (3)