THOUAND OAKS, Calif. – During their first day of their two-day stay at the Tina Finali Invitational, the Cougars won the first contest rather convincingly before rallying for a thrilling win in the nightcap.
With the two wins the Cougars move to 7-3 overall. Azusa Pacific closes out the event with a pair of games on Saturday against Cal State East Bay (11:00 a.m) and ClaremontMuddScripps (2:45 p.m.)
Azusa Pacific 9, Cal Lutheran 5 (Scoresheet)
Seven different players found the back of the cage as the Cougars ran out to a big lead in cruising to the win.
Hannah Bradley broke the scoring lid with 4:14 left in the first quarter then goals by Annalise Batcheller and Mireia Tutusaus Alcaraz less than a minute apart put the Cougars in front 3-0. The Regals scored late in the period as Azusa Pacific took a two-goal lead into the second frame.
The Cougars kept the home team off the scoreboard as Mar Pastor, Britni Tisdale and Britt Harris all scored even strength goals in taking a 6-1 edge at the halfway point.
Another three-goal period by Azusa Pacific all but put the game away. Batcheller scored less than a minute into the quarter then, after a Cal Lutheran goal, Shanna Stevenson and Bradley found the back of the cage on the extra-person attack.
Cal Lutheran scored the game's final three goals.
Defensively the Cougars fought off 11 extra-person attacks on nine occasions. Erica Marquez earned the win in front of the cage. The senior made three saves and also had a pair of steals.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Azusa Pacific |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
| Cal Lutheran |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
GOALS: Bradley (2), Batcheller (2), Stevenson, Harris, Tisdale, Pastor, Alcaraz
SAVES: Marquez (3)
Azusa Pacific 10, Pomona-Pitzer 9 (2OT - Scoresheet)
In a back-and-fourth contest in which neither team held more than a two-goal lead, the Cougars forced the extra periods then scored the only goal during extra time.
Pomona-Pitzer, the nation's top ranked team among NCAA Division III schools, took early leads of 2-0 and 3-1 but the Cougars responded well. Azusa Pacific continued to rally even though they were behind the preverbal eight-ball most of the first two quarters.
A Britni Tisdale goal less than 30 seconds in the third quarter gave the Cougars their first lead of the game at 7-6. They swelled that lead to 8-6 on another Tisdale goal just over two minutes later. However, the Sagehens showed their fortitude with the next three goals as they took a 9-8 lead with 1:43 left.
Mar Pastor tied the game just under 30 seconds later. In the last 60-plus seconds each team had a possession to win the game in regulation, including an extra-person attack for Pomona-Pitzer, but neither could find the back of the cage.
The game winning goal came early in extra time. Annalise Batcheller scored her second goal of the game just 35 seconds into the first overtime. Azusa Pacific had one extra-person attack while the Sagehens had three but both teams were held outside of the cage.
Britt Harris was the scoring leader as the senior notched a hat trick with a goal each in the first, second and third periods.
The game featured 27 total exclusions.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
Total |
| Azusa Pacific |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
| Pomona-Pitzer |
2 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
GOALS: Harris (3), Tisdale (2), Batcheller (2), Yeo (2), Pastor
SAVES: N/A
