LONG BEACH, Calif.-- No. 24 Azusa Pacific Water Polo wrapped up the Long Beach Invite on Saturday by falling to Cal State Northridge, 5-9, before coming up short against Long Beach State, 6-12.

Game One Recap: Cal State Northridge 9, Azusa Pacific 5
Cal State Northridge jumped out to an early 2-0 run over the Cougars in the first period, but a goal from Junior Britni Tisdale followed by another goal from Senior Sarah Adams sparked Azusa Pacific's momentum to even out the score. The momentum would not stay with the Cougars for long as the Matadors responded with four more goals before closing out the first half. 

Azusa Pacific struck first in the third period, when Junior Hannah Bradley scored a goal to trim Cal State Northridge's lead down to 6-3. The Matadors would push the lead back up to four, when they scored with 4:00 left in the frame. Azusa Pacific would make one final push in the fourth period, as the Cougars scored two additional goals in the final minutes of regulation, but the Matadors responded with two more goals to seal the victory. 

Adams led the Cougars with two goals and two steals, while teammates Bradley and Tisdale each added a goal respectively. Also scoring for Azusa Pacific was Sophomore Milena Guzman Ortiz, who added two steals on the defensive end.   

Game Two Recap: Long Beach State 12, Azusa Pacific 6

Despite falling behind by two goals in the first quarter, the Cougars would not fold in the second frame, as senior Mireia Tutusaus Alcaraz scored the opening goal at 5:27 on the clock to cut the Cougar's closest run of the match, 2-3. It wasn't until the third period where Long Beach State jumped out to its largest lead scoring three goals to extend its lead 8-3 over the Cougars. Azusa Pacific attempted one last rally in the final period, but Long Beach State would remain in control for the remainder of the game, scoring four more goals over the final eight minutes of the match to secure its second victory of the day.

Azusa Pacific was able to draw four exclusions in the match, and the Cougars scored four in those opportunities. Long Beach State, however, drew two exclusions and scored once.

Several Cougars showed strong play offensively, as six players finished with a single goal. Junior Gabby Martinez, Senior Sarah Adams, and Junior Hannah Bradley each collected a goal and an assist while Sophomore Milena Guzman Ortiz and Senior Mireia Tutusaus Alcaraz added a goal and a steal respectively. 

What's Next:
The No. 24 Cougars look will look to travel to Tempe, AZ on Friday Jan. 31 for a two-day event in the Arizona State Cross Conference Challenge. Azusa Pacific will first take on Arizona State Friday morning for a 9:00 a.m. matchup before facing Cal State East Bay at 2:30 p.m. The Cougars will wrap up the second and final day with an 11:30 a.m. matchup against Sonoma State, followed by a 3:15 p.m. matchup against Hawai'i.