Rocklin, Calif. -  In its final PacWest game of the 2024 season, Azusa Pacific powered past Jessup with a strong 5-1 win. Four different Cougars had goals with Jaci Maze scoring a brace.

How it Happened: The Cougars set the pace early, breaking the deadlock in the 13th minute. Senior Faith Crouse beat her defender down the sideline and sent in a powerful cross that Zoey Kuhn got on the end of, putting the Cougars up 1-0. Both sides struggled to create any dangerous opportunities throughout the rest of the half, as the Cougars recorded two shots and held the Warriors to none. 

The Cougars widened the gap in the second half. Jaci Maze scored twice, first in the 52nd minute as she received a ball with her back to goal, turned her defender, and fired a shot over the Warriors' goalkeeper's head. She struck again in the 63rd minute. Zuhn played a precise through ball to Avery Guiel, who crossed the ball in one touch for Maze to slot into the near post, extending the lead to 3-0. The Cougars added to the scoreline in the 70th minute when Hailey Hilton got a head on a corner kick from Alexis Fuller, making it 4-0.

Jessup managed to put one past the Cougars just 30 seconds later, but Azusa Pacific responded quickly. In the 73rd minute, Megan Salvesvold took a left-footed shot on a bouncing ball that traveled through a crowded penalty box to score Azusa Pacific's fifth goal, sealing the commanding victory.

By the Numbers: The Cougars finish the regular season with a 12-3-1 overall record and an 8-3-0 mark in conference play. The Cougars outshot the Warriors 14-6, ten being on frame. This is the third time the Cougars and Warriors clashed, with Azusa Pacific collecting a win in all three matches, and out-scoring Jessup by at least three goals. With her two goals in the match, Maze has amassed ten across the season. 

Up Next: Azusa Pacific is currently ranked 5th in the region and will await the NCAA post-season selection show to find out if it will compete in post-season play. The top six teams in the region will play in the NCAA Tournament.