FRESNO, Calif. -  Azusa Pacific felll short on the road Saturday afternoon, suffering an 18-6 defeat at the hands of Fresno State at the Fresno State Aquatics Center. They dropped to 14-13 overall and 2-4 in Golden Coast Conference play, while Fresno State improved to 11-7 and 5-1 in the conference.

Despite a valiant effort, it was outpaced early, falling behind 5-1 in the opening quarter. Fresno State's Abbey Simshauser led all scorers with five goals, while teammate Sidney Strickland contributed four, including three in the final quarter to seal the dominant win.

Meanwhile, the Cougars found the back of the net six times, with Jessie Nelson leading the charge with two goals and an assist. Audrey Dexter, Laia Marsinach Ortega, Alyssa Perez, and Alexandra Akritidou each chipped in a goal. Nelson's efforts stood out as she continued to be a spark for the APU offense.

Statistically, Azusa Pacific put up 26 shots but struggled to convert, netting only six. Fresno State was efficient, scoring 18 goals on 38 shots, and displayed sharp ball movement with 12 assists. Defensively, the Bulldogs also controlled the pool with 13 steals to APU's six.
Goalkeeper Daniela Herrero Miralles made nine saves in a full 32-minute effort for the Cougars but faced relentless offensive pressure throughout the match.

Up Next: The Cougarswill look to regroup and bounce back in their upcoming matchup as they aim to finish the season strong in conference play with a Cornerstone Cup matchup at Biola next Wednesday.