FRESNO, Calif. -- No. 23-ranked Azusa Pacific posted a commanding win over Concordia on Saturday afternoon, as the Cougars won 12-5. The Cougars raced out to an early lead, and would not relinquish control.
 
To open the game, Azusa Pacific scored four unanswered goals to take a 4-0 lead with 1:47 left in the first period. Concordia would score its first goal of the game with 1:04 left in the opening period, as the Eagles capitalized on a powerplay opportunity.
 
The Cougars would keep the momentum in the second period, as Azusa Pacific scored three goals while its defense held Concordia scoreless. Sophomore Shanna Stevenson kicked off the scoring in the period, as she found hte back of the net with just a little under a minute into the second. Up 5-1, Azusa Pacific added to the lead when freshman Milena Guzmán Ortiz scored on a powerplay to go up 6-1. With 19 seconds remaining in the second period, senior Arianne Yeo scored the Cougars' seventh goal of the first half to give Azusa Pacific a 7-1 halftime lead.
 
The third period saw both teams score three goals each, which kept Azusa Pacific with a comfortable six goal lead at 10-4.
 
In the fourth period, Concordia scored first at the 6:40 mark. However, Azusa Pacific would hold Concordia scoreless for the remainder of the game, and receive a goal each from junior Mireia Tutusaus Alcaraz and Annalise Batcheller to close out the game and take the 12-5 win.
 
In the game, 10 different Cougars scored at least one goal in the game, including two goals each from Guzmán Ortiz and senior Carinna Prince. Batcheller led Azusa Pacific with two assists, and senior Mar Pastor Alvarez had a game-high four steals. Sophomore Britni Tisdale added three steals in the game. Sophomore Olivia Lott earned the win in goal, as she finished with six saves and a steal in 16 minutes of action. Junior Kristine Khachikian and freshman Gabrielle Mantyka also saw action in goal as both players logged eight minutes of action, with Khachikian recording a save and a steal.
 
Up Next: With the win, Azusa Pacific is now set for a matchup with California Baptist on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. The winner of that contest will claim fifth place at the GCC Tournament.