Box Score

Katlin Hicks scored with 21 seconds left to lift Fresno Pacific past Azusa Pacific 7-6 in La Jolla, avenging an early-season loss to the Cougars. The Sunbirds, after trailing 6-5, scored twice and forced two turnovers in the final 1:07 to claim the victory.

Nicolette Haley's goal tied the game with 1:07 left before Jaimie Lugo forced a turnover on the ensuing Cougar possession. After drawing a foul, Lugo found Hicks on the opposite goal-post. She then turned a hit a step-out shot with 21 seconds left to give FPU the lead.

The Cougars got the ball back with a chance to tie but it took the Sunbirds just eight seconds to steal the ball away and get it to goalie Kelsie Harvey who would run off the clock.

“Our girls started out the game mentally ready for Azusa,” said Head Coach Bryan Suhovy. “What I was most proud of was our mental toughness.”
 
Despite Azusa coming out of the gate firing with two early goals in the first quarter, Lugo and the Sunbirds responded by getting on the scoreboard in the period with 1:37 to go.
 
The Sunbirds continued to fight in the second, showing their toughness following a quick goal by the Cougars to open up the period. FPU countered with a goal from Jenna Morris with :52 seconds remaining, putting the score 3-2 as the match reached halftime.
 
The third produced the first lead of the match at 4-3 for the Sunbirds following goals by Hicks and Haley while Harvey shut out the Cougars in goal for the quarter, where she recorded 12 saves on the day.
 
The Sunbirds started out the fourth with a goal to stretch the lead 5-3, but Azusa would not go down without a fight of their own.
 
“We lost the lead with two minutes left in the game but they didn't give up,” said Suhovy.
 
The Sunbirds surrendered the lead 6-5 with 1:32 to go in the match following three unanswered goals from APU, forcing a timeout to regroup. FPU kept their composure resulting in the late heroics from Haley and Hicks to pull out the 7-6 victory.
 
“We regained our composure and came back to win,” said Suhovy. “It was a great win that shows a huge amount of growth for us. I was proud that they girls never gave up, they set their sights on a win, they played as a team, and won.”
 
Hicks and Haley led the Sunbirds on the day with two goals apiece, while Lugo, Morris and RaeAnn Sadler played a crucial role in the victory each scoring a goal as well.
 
The Sunbirds will play two more matches tomorrow, as they take on Brown and the host school, #18 UC San Diego.