THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Azusa Pacific picked up right where they left off Friday at the Tina Finali Invitational, defeating the University of Toronto 18-9 before narrowly beating tournament host Cal Lutheran 10-9 to finish the weekend a perfect 4-0.
Game One: Azusa Pacific 18, Toronto 9
The Cougars followed Friday's formula, jumping all over the reigning Canadian university champions by scoring eight goals in the first quarter. Jessie Nelson had a hat trick just over four minutes into the game, and Azusa Pacific would score the final six goals of the period to take an 8-1 lead at the end of the quarter. Azusa Pacific would extend its advantage to double figures in the second, scoring the first three goals of the period before the Blues' offense finally found its footing, cutting the Cougar lead to 11-5 at halftime.
Indeed, Toronto scored the opening goal of the third to make it five in a row before Rachel Ahumada finally provided some relief with a goal of her own. The Cougars were able to narrowly win the third quarter, heading into the final period with a 14-7 advantage, then found the back of the cage four more times in the final period to close out the win. Ten different Cougars scored a goal in the game, led by Nelson with four. Meanwhile, Ahumada had three goals, two assists, and four steals; while Daniela Herrero Miralles made nine saves in a winning effort.
Game Two, Azusa Pacific 10, Cal Lutheran 9
The final game of the weekend against the host Regals was by far the most tightly contested of the weekend for Azusa Pacific. The game was tied four separate times in the first half as each team took turns going a goal down and equalizing. Kaelene De Bie scored twice for the Cougars in the first half, including a power play goal that was the only tally of the second quarter for the Cougars as the game was tied at the end of both the first and second quarters.
The goal trading continued in the third, with neither side ever able to take a lead of more than one. With the game tied again at 7-7 in the final minute of the period, Laia Marsinach Ortega was able to feed the ball inside to Audrey Dexter, who put it home to again give Azusa Pacific a narrow lead going into the fourth. The game was tied again twice in the fourth quarter before De Bie completed her hat trick just before the midway point of the quarter. The defense was under pressure the entire final four minutes, giving up three power play opportunities plus a penalty shot. But Herrero Miralles was up to the task, coming up with two of her eight saves down the stretch while De Bie blocked the Regals' last-ditch effort at the buzzer while also recording three steals to go along with three goals and an assist.
