FRESNO, Calif. — Azusa Pacific dropped a 12–11 decision to No. 20 California Baptist in the fifth-place match of the GCC Tournament on Saturday at the Fresno State Aquatics Center, closing out the 2026 season. The Cougars battled back from an early deficit and pulled even multiple times behind a five-goal performance from Jessie Nelson, but California Baptist answered late to hold on for the one-goal win.
California Baptist grabbed control early, scoring three of the game's first four goals to take the lead in the opening quarter.
Montana George got Azusa Pacific on the board with a first-period goal, but the Lancers carried a 4–1 advantage into the second after scoring with five seconds left in the frame.
The Cougars responded in the second quarter with one of their strongest stretches of the match. Audrey Dexter started the run with an exclusion goal off an assist from George, and Kohia Rego followed with a score to cut the deficit to 6–3. After California Baptist answered, Jessie Nelson scored twice in the final 46 seconds of the half, once off a feed from George and again off an assist from Rego, to bring Azusa Pacific within 7–5 at the break.
Nelson stayed hot in the third quarter, scoring twice more to keep the Cougars within striking distance. Her goals answered California Baptist scores at 7:09 and 2:13, but the Lancers again found a late goal in the period to take a 10–7 edge into the fourth.
Azusa Pacific made one final push in the fourth. Dexter opened the scoring in the period, and Bailey Hollick converted an exclusion opportunity off another assist from George to cut the margin to one. After California Baptist answered, Nelson scored her fifth goal of the match at 3:15, and George added a late goal with 42 seconds remaining to bring the Cougars back within 12–11.
Nelson led Azusa Pacific offensively with five goals, while George finished with two goals and four assists. Dexter added two goals and an assist, and Rego posted a goal and an assist. Hollick also scored in the fourth as the Cougars placed steady pressure on the Lancers throughout the second half.
In goal, Daniela Herrero Miralles recorded 12 saves while facing 36 California Baptist shots.
The Cougars conclude the 2026 season with a 17-13 overall record, a 1-5 conference record, and three All-GCC selections.
