RIVERSIDE, Calif.-- Azusa Pacific captured a fifth place finish in the Golden Coast Conference Championships with its final win against Santa Clara on Saturday afternoon. The Cougars finished their season with a 9-16 overall record.
The 13-12 win included four goals from Montana White, three from Kyra Kahahawai, two a-piece from Milena Guzmán Ortiz and Shyanne Rainey, and one each from Bri Erickson and Maritza Ochoa.
How it Happened: After winning the first sprint matchup of the game, White turned around and scored the Cougars' first goal of the game. After Santa Clara responded with a goal of its own the next minute, White found the net again with an assist from Rainey.
Less than a minute later, the Cougars converted a goal off a power play where Kahahawai set up the goal for Erikson to score upon. To score the last goal of the period was Guzmán Ortiz to give the Cougars a 4-1 lead over the Broncos.
Santa Clara opened the second period with two goals in an attempt to cut their deficit, however White and Kahahawai responded with a goal each to make the score 6-4.
The Broncos tied the game at 6 with two more goals at even strength.
Following a timeout called from head coach
Julie Snodgrass, Azusa Pacific scored immediately off a power play. The goal from Ochoa allowed the team to regain the 7-6 lead with 2:05 left in the period and was the final goal of the half.
Although White won the sprint again to start the third period, it wasn't until the 2:53 mark before someone scored. Rainey drew the first goal of the period off an assist from
Skylar Ford followed by a goal from Santa Clara on a power play to make the score 8-7.
Guzmán Ortiz responded with a goal on a power play followed by another goal from Santa Clara on even strength with less than a minute left in the period.
With nine seconds left in the third period Santa Clara found the back of the cage to tie the game yet again making the score 9-9 going into the fourth.
Immediately following her sprint win, White tallied her fourth goal of the game to regain the lead. Rainey and Kahahwai extended Azusa Pacific's lead to 12-9 with a goal each.
Santa Clara snuck in a goal but the Cougars responded with their final goal of the game scored by Kahahawai.
The Broncos tallied two more goals to end the period but it was too late as the Cougars captured the 13-12 win.
By the Numbers: After winning all four sprint attempts of the game, White led the team with a 41-20 sprint record for the season.
Kate Green-Jones, who totaled 13 saves against Santa Clara, finished her season with 192 saves as goalie.
Guzmán Ortiz, the team's leading scorer, finished her season with 58 goals which tied her for third all-time in a single season in Azusa Pacific history. Her 144 career goals are third all-time in Azusa Pacific history.
