FRESNO, CALIF.--The No. 16 Azusa Pacific Water Polo team closed out day two of the Fesno State Invitational Saturday morning by shutting out No. 8 Fresno Pacific, 16-8 before closing out the day with a 17-10 victory over Cal Lutheran. 

Azusa Pacific 16, Fresno Pacific 8
The Cougars used a steady offensive attack and solid defense to post a 16-8 victory over No. 8 Fresno Pacific. Fresno Pacific opened the scoring halfway through the first quarter, 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 freshman Shayanne Rainey found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Junior Hannah Bradley (assisted by junior Britni Tisdale) would score again in the first period, giving the Cougars their first lead of the game at 2-1 with 2:54 left. Heading into the second quarter, Azusa Pacific took a 2-1 lead and turned it into a 6-2 advantage before heading into halftime. 

Azusa Pacific scored at least four goals in each of the final two periods, scoring four goals in the third period, and six in the fourth period. Sophomore Lauren Hoyle and Rainey led the Cougars with three goals each. Three other Cougars finished with two goals, as  senior Mireia Tutusaus Alcaraz, Bradley, and sophomore Brianna Erickson led offensively. 

Defensively, junior Olivia Lott played all 32 minutes in goal for the Cougars, registering 12 saves and earned the win.

Azusa Pacific 17, Cal Lutheran 10
The second match started out as a mirror image of the first. Cal Lutheran jumped out to a 1-0 lead with 6:26 left in the first period. Tutusaus Alcaraz broke through for the Cougars on a powerplay to even up the score. The Cougars pulled away in the first half and held a lead as big as 8-5 before heading into halftime. 

The second half belonged to Azusa Pacific, as three straight goals from Tutusaus Alcaraz, Kyra Kahahawai, and Britni Tisdale extended the Cougar's lead 11-5. Cal Lutheran attempted to rally back throughout the final 18 minutes, but was never able to recover as Azusa Pacific cruised its way to a 17-10 victory.   

Guzman Ortiz and Hoyle lead the way for the Cougars, as they each scored three goals and had a steal in the match. Tisdale, Kahahawai, and Bradley each finished with two goals, while three other Cougars added a goal.

What's Next: With the two wins, No. 16 Azusa Pacific improves 4-8 on the season. The Cougars will look to continue traveling on the road, as they head to Stockton, Calif. on March 6 and take on Pacific for a 6:00 p.m. matchup.