GLENDORA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific earned a pair of wins Saturday morning and afternoon at the Citrus Aquatic Center, pulling away from Virginia Military Institute for a 14-6 victory before withstanding a third-quarter surge to defeat Cal Lutheran, 15-10.

Game One: Azusa Pacific 14, VMI 6
The Cougars set the tone early with a five-goal opening quarter and never trailed, using a balanced attack and timely stops in the cage to separate from the Keydets. Bailey Hollick got Azusa Pacific on the board 21 seconds into the game, and after VMI answered twice in the first, the Cougars closed the quarter with three straight goals, including a Jessie Nelson strike and an Audrey Dexter finish, to take a 5-3 lead after one.

Defense took over in the second, as Azusa Pacific held VMI scoreless while Jaeden Johnson provided the lone tally of the quarter, pushing the advantage to 6-3 at halftime.

The Cougars created even more breathing room out of the break, scoring four times in the third. Kori Cunningham opened the half, Dexter converted on a power-play goal, and Hollick added another as Azusa Pacific built a 10-4 cushion heading into the fourth. VMI threatened late with a pair of goals inside the final three minutes, but the Cougars answered with four fourth-quarter tallies—two from Hollick plus an insurance goal from Montana George in the final minute—to close out the 14-6 win.

Hollick led the way with five goals, while Dexter scored three and Prado, Nelson, Vetuli, Johnson, Cunningham, and George also found the back of the net. Kayla Tweed anchored the defense with five saves in 24 minutes, and Madelyn Nim added three saves in her eight-minute stint.

Game Two: Azusa Pacific 15, Cal Lutheran 10
Azusa Pacific carried its momentum into the afternoon matchup, racing out to a 4-1 lead after one behind two goals from Nelson and strikes from Montana George and Kohia Rego. The Cougars kept pressing in the second, scoring four more times, including two more from Nelson and a pair from Audrey Dexter, to take an 8-2 lead into halftime.

Cal Lutheran flipped the script in a chaotic third quarter, erupting for seven goals to cut the deficit to 12-9. Azusa Pacific responded with answers when it needed them most, as George and Hollick found goals in the third to keep the Cougars in front.

In the fourth, the Cougars steadied defensively and finished the game off with three more goals, including two from Kori Cunningham and a Hollick finish to slam the door. Azusa Pacific's early cushion proved decisive as it closed out the 15-10 victory.

Nelson paced the Cougars with four goals, while George posted a team-high six points with three goals and three assists. Dexter added two goals and three assists, Rego scored twice, and Cunningham also finished with two goals and two assists. Daniela Herrero Miralles recorded four saves in 24 minutes, and Avery Reyes stopped two shots over the final eight minutes to help seal the win.

Up Next: With the pair of wins the Cougars are now 5-3 on the season. They return to the pool on Saturday Jan. 31 when they travel to La Verne to face the Leopards. Game time is set for 9:00 a.m.