Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
APU
No. 11 Fresno State takes down No. 20 Azusa Pacific
3/13/2021 9:30:00 PM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – The No. 11 Fresno State water polo team defeated No. 20 Azusa Pacific 16-6 in its Golden Coast Conference home opener on Saturday afternoon at the Aquatics Center. The Bulldogs improve to 6-4 (2-0 GCC) and remain undefeated in conference play.
"Great team effort in our win today," head coach Natalie Benson said. "We had a much better defensive presence, and it allowed our defense to feed our offense. I'm happy to be able to get our entire bench some playing time, and add to our team's depth."
Sophomore Isabella Sonkoly led the Bulldogs with a hat trick in the contest. Hope Stokes chalked the start in the cage and grabbed a season-high 11 saves.
In addition to Sonkoly, there were nine other Fresno State goalscorers in the contest. Claire Schade, Mia Barr, Kaitlin Howarth and Emily Nicholson each scored a pair, while Megan Greenwood, Emily Diacono, Yesenia Preciado, Tori Gacutan and Apryl Gonzalez each found the back of the net once.
How it happened – The Cougars got on the board first, but the Bulldogs responded with five consecutive goals to take an early 5-1 lead. Nicholson accounted for two goals in that stretch. Fresno State's defense held APU without a goal for nearly five minutes after their first, before notching their second goal of the first period. Fresno State and APU exchanged goals to finish the first quarter to end the first eight minutes with the Bulldogs leading, 6-3.
Fresno State owned the second quarter, scoring three goals while holding APU scoreless. The Bulldogs held a 9-3 lead at halftime.
APU opened scoring in the third quarter, but Greenwood countered with a Fresno State goal. Sonkoly recorded her hat trick behind back-to-back goals to close the third quarter, which gave the 'Dogs a 12-4 advantage.
The Bulldogs outscored the Cougars 4-2 in the final eight minutes to secure the win.
What's next – No. 11 Fresno State will host GCC foe Concordia on Saturday, March 20 at the Aquatics Center.
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