SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Azusa Pacific came up just short on Friday evening, as #24 San Diego State held on for an 11-10 win in a Golden Coast Conference affair. The Cougars are now 12-9 overall and 1-2 in GCC action. Alexandra Akritidou led the Cougars with four goals, while Kaelene De Bie added two of her own. 

The game was a battle from start to finish, with neither team taking a lead larger than one goal through the first three periods of action. At halftime, the Aztecs held the 6-5 lead, but De Bie would level the score right out of the break, as she put one in the back of the cage just 16 seconds into the third to tie it at 6-6. About a minute and a half later, Alyssa Perez gave the Cougars their first lead since midway through the first quarter (3-2), as she scored to make it 7-6. At the end of the third, the two teams were knotted at 8-8.

Just 40 seconds into the final period, the Aztecs took a 9-8 advantage, and San Diego State would score another to take a multi-goal lead for the first time in the contest at 10-8 (6:00 4th). Akritidou would score her third goal of the affair to make it 10-9, but the Aztecs would answer with another goal. Akritidou would again draw the Cougars within one goal at 11-10 (4:53 4th), but the Aztecs would hold on over the final four minutes by keeping Azusa Pacific scoreless.

The Cougars finished 10-for-20 (.500) on shots, while San Diego State was 11-for-28 (.393). Four of Azusa Pacific's goals were scored on the power play, compared to two for the Aztecs. Daniela Herrero Miralles and Alex Airitam each played two periods in goal for the Cougars, with each finishing with five saves.

Up Next: The Cougars have the chance to bounce back against another ranked opponent tomorrow morning, as #21 Brown will be the opponent at 11:00 am over at Citrus College.