IRVINE, Calif. — Azusa Pacific women's water polo traveled to No. 7 ranked UC Irvine Saturday and lost 19-7 at the Anteater Aquatics Complex. The Cougars were led by Bri Erickson who tallied her first career multi-goal game and also recorded an assist to lead her team in points. With the loss Azusa Pacific is now 2-3 to start the season.

How it Happened: UC Irvine jumped out of the gate in the opening quarter, tallying the game's first five goals while keeping the Cougars scoreless. 

Trailing 6-0 in the second quarter, Erickson scored the Cougars first goal of the game on the power play to make it 6-1. Unfortunately, the Anteaters tallied three more in the second and took a 9-1 lead into halftime. All five total goals scored between the two teams in the second came either on the power play or by a five-meter penalty shot.

In the third, Erickson scored her second of the game on just her second shot of the game to make it 10-2 before her teammate, Montana White, followed suit with a goal to cut the deficit to seven. Trailing 13-3, Maritza Ochoa got on the scoresheet before Olivia Lott would finish off the third with a goal of her own.

Down 14-5 to begin the fourth quarter, White tallied another goal to cut the Anteater lead to eight. María Boix Pascual would tally the game's final goal with just 16 seconds remaining as UC Irvine won this one, 19-7.

Up Next: Azusa Pacific will host Concordia for its home opener on Saturday, February 19th at Northview High School in Glendora, Calif. The Cougars and Eagles are set to play beginning at 11:00 a.m.