SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Azusa Pacific water polo lost a nail-biting game against No. 19 San Diego State by a score of 14-13 in overtime. The Cougars fought hard as they led five different times in the back-and-forth battle that eventually went the Aztecs way in the overtime period. It was an exciting seesaw battle that saw 11 different lead changes, including the biggest of the game in the final minute of overtime.

Kyra Kahahawai and Montana White each scored a hat trick in the game while Milena Guzmán Ortiz and Lauren Hoyle tallied two goals apiece in the loss.

How it Happened: San Diego State took the early lead in the first period before Kahahawai scored her first goal of the game to tie it up at 1-apiece just six minutes into the game. Two Aztec goals sandwiched in between a Guzmán Ortiz goal would end the first period with San Diego State in the lead 3-2.

The Cougars fired back in the second period, scoring the first two goals of the period. The first coming from Kahahawai on a five-meter penalty shot before Shyanne Rainey gave Azusa Pacific its first lead of the game, 4-3. With 4:12 to go in the first half, the Aztecs scored to tie the game before just 12 seconds later Guzmán Ortiz tallied her second goal of the game to put her team back up by one. Kahahawai tallied her third of the game before the half to cap off the four-goal second period which saw Azusa Pacific take a 6-5 lead into the half.

San Diego State came out firing in the second half, tallying the first three goals of the third period all in the first two minutes. Down two, Skylar Ford got one back for Azusa Pacific to make it 8-7 in favor of the Aztecs. The final four minutes of the third period saw five goals scored including three from the Cougars and two from San Diego State to tie the game at 10-apiece going to the fourth period. Hoyle tallied both of her goals in the third while White scored her first of the game.

To start the fourth, Azusa Pacific took a two-goal lead after White and Kaelene De Bie each scored to make it 12-10 with 5:38 to go. The Aztecs would score the final two goals of the game, however, including tying the game with 1:54 to go in the fourth.

In the first of two overtime quarters, White scored her third to complete the hat trick to give Azusa Pacific its fifth lead of the game, making it 13-12. But, the Cougars couldn't hold on in the final OT quarter as the Aztecs scored twice including the game-winner with 1:20 left in overtime taking the win, 14-13.

Up Next: The Cougars will face No. 11 ranked UC Davis tomorrow, Saturday, March 26th. Game time is set for 11:00 a.m. Follow along live here.