CLAREMONT, Calif. – After a slow start, Azusa Pacific dominated the middle quarters to snap a two-game skid, defeating Concordia-Irvine by a 13-8 final at Axelrood Pool Wednesday afternoon.  Laia Marsinach Ortega led the way with a hat trick, two assists, and five steals in the victory.

How It Happened:  The Cougars were kept at bay on their first four offensive possessions before Maritza Ochoa found the back of the cage to tie the game at 1-1 just over three minutes in.  It was the first of three power play goals the Cougars would score in the contest.  The Ahumada sisters would link up for Azusa Pacific's next goal, with Catherine finding her sister Rachel to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead.  Concordia would level the match on their next shot, and the score would stay at 2-2 going into the second quarter.

Concordia briefly took a 3-2 lead thirty seconds into the second period, but that would be their last goal for over 16 minutes of game time.  Ochoa capitalized on a steal to level the match, the first of six unanswered Cougar goals over the rest of the half and the entirety of the third.  Ochoa would complete her hat trick with a power play goal a minute into the third, by which point the Cougars had a 6-3 lead.

The Cougar post players, Jessie Nelson, and Alyssa Perez, each scored later in the third period to run the Azusa Pacific lead to 8-3 at the end of the quarter.  Concordia tried to fight their way back into it, scoring the first two goals of the fourth.  But the Cougars answered back, with Nelson and Perez each scoring another goal down the stretch, while Marsinach Ortega converted twice on penalty shots in the closing minutes to regain the five-goal margin.

By the Numbers:  Marsinach Ortega, Ochoa, and Nelson all had hat tricks for the Cougars in the game.  Marsinach Ortega made it a five point day, also coming up with five steals and drawing four exclusions against the Golden Eagles.  Catherine Ahumada also had a three-point day, with a goal and two assists.  The Cougar defense collected 14 steals in the game, while Daniela Herrero Miralles logged seven saves, leaving her just two shy of 500 for her career.

Up Next:  Azusa Pacific (13-11, 1-2 GCC) will be right back in Claremont on Friday to play their final home game of the season against Santa Clara.  The team's six seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony before the game starts at 5:00 p.m.