#25 Azusa Pacific 17, Fresno Pacific 8
Azusa Pacific used a steady offensive attack and solid defense to post a 17-8 victory over host Fresno Pacific. Fresno Pacific opened the scoring just 45 seconds into the match, as the Sunbirds capitalized off of an early power play. Down 1-0, the Cougars responded quickly, scoring their first goal of the contest just 20 seconds later, when junior Mireia Tutusaus Alcaraz found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Tutusaus Alcaraz would score again in the first period, giving the Cougars their first lead of the game at 2-1 with 4:13 left. Following a Sunbird goal that tied the game at two goals apiece, junior Sarah Adams gave Azusa Pacific the lead for good, as she scored with 3:30 left in the first period.
Azusa Pacific scored at least two goals in each of the four periods, scoring seven goals in the second period, four in the first and fourth period, and two goals in the third period. Tutusaus Alcaraz and freshman Milena Guzmán Ortiz led the Cougars with four goals each, senior Annalise Batcheller had three goals, and sophomore Gabrielle Martinez added two goals. Four Cougars had one goal in the match. Azusa Pacific had 12 assists, led by three from Tutusaus Alcaraz, and two by Guzmán Ortiz and senior Arianne Yeo.
Defensively, sophomore Olivia Lott played all 32 minutes in goal for the Cougars, registering 10 saves and earned the win. The Cougars had 16 steals in the game, led by five from sophomore Britni Tisdale. Nine different Cougars tallied a steal in the game.
The Cougars were able to draw 11 total exclusions/penalties in the match. In powerplay opportunities, Azusa Pacific went 3-for-9. The Cougars were 2-for-2 in five-meter penalty situations. The Sunbirds drew nine exclusions, going 2-for-9 on powerplays.
#25 Azusa Pacific 9, Cal State Monterey Bay 4
Despite being held scoreless throughout the first period and a portion of the second, Azusa Pacific came alive and claimed its second victory of the day. Down 3-0 in the second period, Tutusaus Alcaraz broke through for the Cougars on a powerplay, scoring off of an assist from Martinez with four and a half minutes left in the first half. Guzmán Ortiz trimmed the Otter down to 3-2, as she scored with 2:25 left before halftime. With under a minute before the break, the Cougars pulled even at 3-3, as senior Mar Pastor Alvarez scored her first goal of the day.
The second half belonged to the Cougars, sparked by back-to-back goals by freshman Lauren Hoyle to start the third period. Cal State Monterey Bay scored once in the period, as the Otters' Marisa Lovos found the back of the net with one second left in the third period. At the end of the third period, Azusa Pacific held a slim 5-4 lead. The fourth period was all Cougars, as the Otters were held scoreless in the final eight minutes while the Cougars added four goals to their lead.
Pastor Alvarez lead the way for the Cougars, as she scored three goals and had an assist in the match. Guzmán Ortiz and Hoyle finished with two goals, while Tisdale and Tutusaus Alcaraz each added a goal. Tutusaus Alcaraz had a game-high four assists for Azusa Pacific. Lott played her second 32 minute match of the day, recording 13 saves and earning the win in goal for Azusa Pacific.
Up Next: With the two wins, #25 Azusa Pacific improves to 5-7 on the season. Azusa Pacific, who opened the season with 12 consecutive games away from home, will host Toronto on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 11:00 a.m. in the Cougars' home opener.
