AZUSA, Calif. - After 32 minutes of action, there were plenty of bumps and bruises on both Azusa Pacific and Fresno State players, as the team teams battled, with the #8 Bulldogs eventually earning a 15-9 Golden Coast Conference victory over the Cougars. Azusa Pacific is now 13-11 overall, and 2-3 in conference play. 

Skylar Ford scored twice, while Mica Schiavone dished out three assists. Maria Boix Pascual added a goal and two assists. In goal, Alex Airitam and Daniela Herrero Miralles each played a half, with Airitam tallying four saves while Herrero Miralles finished with three.

How It Happened: The two teams started things off with defensive intensity and strong goalkeeping play, with neither offense able to score over the first five minutes of play. The Bulldogs would finally break through with the opening goal with just about three minutes to go in the first period, and Fresno State would add another with 1:18 left. 

Kaelene De Bie delivered the Cougars' first goal of the game, as she made it 2-1 with 6:11 on the clock in the second period. The Bulldogs would push their lead up to 5-1 with three unanswered scores, and while Ford broke up the unanswered streak with her first goal of the day to make it 5-2 with 1:47 to go before halftime, Fresno State would answer back just 30 seconds later to regain a four goal lead going into halftime.

Fresno State would maintain a cushion of three goals or more for the entirety of the third and fourth periods, as the Bulldogs outscored the Cougars by a 6-3 margin in the third. Azusa Pacific was able to put four goals into the back of the cage over the final eight minutes, but the Bulldogs lead shrunk no further than six, as the visitors added three goals of their own in the fourth. 

Up Next: The Cougars will not need to sit on the loss for long, as they are back in the pool tomorrow for a Cornerstone Cup rivalry game against Biola at 3:00 pm over at Citrus College. The game will also be the final home game of the season, and it will be Senior Day for Ford, Schiavone and Boix Pascual. The trio will be honored during a pregame ceremony.