SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Azusa Pacific women's water polo opened its season at the UCSB Tournament against Wagner College midday Friday. The two teams were locked in a close battle before Wagner pulled away in the second half to hand the Cougars their first loss of the season by a score of 19-12.

Azusa Pacific was led by Kyra Kahahawai who scored a career-high five goals and also recorded two assists. Milena Guzmán Ortiz scored a pair of goals and also had an assist while drawing six exclusions total in the match.

How it Happened: After allowing the opening goal, Azusa Pacific scored back-to-back goals to take the lead in the first quarter. Kahahawai was the first to get on the scoresheet before freshman Montana White gave her team the lead just three minutes into the contest.

Wagner battled back scoring three unanswered goals to make it 4-2 before the Cougars gave them a taste of their own medicine with three unanswered of their own to reclaim the lead. Guzmán Ortiz tallied her first goal of the season with a penalty shot goal before Lauren Hoyle scored one of her two in the game to tie the game at four-apiece. Kahahawai's second goal of the game came on the power play under a minute to go in the first period to give Azusa Pacific a 5-4 lead.

Guzmán Ortiz tallied her second goal of the game in the second period to tie up the game 6-6 after Wagner scored the first two goals of the period. Hoyle and Maritza Ochoa both scored once to keep the game tied at 8-8 before Wagner scored the final two before the half to take a 10-8 lead.

The Seahawks continued their momentum into the third period scoring four unanswered to start the second half, increasing their lead to 14-8. The Cougars scored three times before the period ended to make it a 15-11 game. Azusa Pacific couldn't quite mount a comeback in the fourth period however, eventually losing 19-12.

By the Numbers: Azusa Pacific drew 18 exclusions in the game and only had nine exclusions themselves. The Cougars converted on two of their three penalty shot chances. Both Olivia Lott and Kate Green-Jones got action in net with both recording six saves.

Up Next: The Cougars face Ottawa at 3:00 p.m. for their second game of the day (Friday, Jan. 21). The UCSB Tournament continues into tomorrow Saturday, January 22nd as well as Azusa Pacific will face Indiana University at 9:15 a.m. before taking on Brown University at 2:45 p.m.