LA VERNE/GLENDORA, Calif. — Saint Francis University split a pair of games on the West Coast as the Red Flash burned Division III No. 7-ranked the University of La Verne in sudden death overtime, 11-10, but were held down against Azusa Pacific University in taking a 12-7 loss.
Facing the Leopards of La Verne in the early game at Las Flores Pool, Saint Francis found a way to acquire a victory as Ani Aghakhanian (Sr., La Crescenta, Calif./Los Angeles Valley College) drilled in a shot with 2:22 left in the first sudden death period for the decisive blow.
The game swayed back-and-forth between the two teams with the Red Flash overcoming a 1-0 deficit with 7:01 left in the first quarter to pull ahead 3-1 with 7:22 to go in the second frame. Tied at five-all by halftime, both teams found the back of the cage in the first 3:15 of the third quarter. Back-to-back scores by La Verne’s Jordan Ehara (4:14) and Jassmine Kezman (2:25, man-up) pushed the Leopards ahead at 8-6, but Julia Bradford (Fr., Edinboro, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) and Erin O’Neill (Jr., Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) combined to equalize the score with man-up (2:03) and natural (1:14) markers, respectively.
La Verne appeared primed to snatch the win in regulation as Kezman deposited an assist from Victoria Mezack at 4:46 for the go-ahead score to make it 9-8 in favor of the Leopards. However, Bradford rifled in a tying tally with 20 ticks on the clock to force overtime.
In the first three-minutes of extra time, Rebecca Pendleton (Fr., Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) gave SFU its inaugural lead since a 3-2 scoreboard advantage with 7:03 remaining in the second quarter. The margin lasted until the 1:21 mark of the second OT frame when Kezman found Ilene Guerrero to knot the score at 10-all and bring on Aghakhanian’s heroics in sudden victory.
For Saint Francis, Bradford led the way with three goals and an assist, while Aghakhanin chipped in a pair of markers. Caroline Gillespie (Fr., Lansdale, Pa./North Penn), Pendleton and Cam Nguyen (So., Mason, Ohio/Mason) each added single goals with Mezzli Enriquez (So., Atwater, Calif./El Capitan) notching an assist.
In cage, Kate Wilke (Jr., Burbank, Calif./Burroughs) made three saves with four goals allowed in 10:27 of work. Rosalinda Rivera (Fr., Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) accounted for the majority of the time between the pipes as she stopped seven shots with six goals allowed in 30:33.
For La Verne, Kezman factored in nine of her team’s 10 goals by scoring six and assisting on three. Mezack added a goal and five assists with Kelly Riedel, Guerrero and Ehara also netting markers.
Shelby Garcia took the loss for the Leopards with 10 saves and 11 goals.
Taking on Azusa Pacific in the nightcap at the Citrus College Aquatic Center, Saint Francis fell behind 5-2 by the conclusion of the first quarter and never recovered.
Breanna Dupperon (Fr., Regina, Canada/Campbell Collegiate) scored three times with Aghakhanian (one goal, one assist), Kelsey Gring (Jr., Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) (one goal, one assist), Enriquez (one goal, two assists), Nguyen (one goal) and Bradford (one assist) also factoring in the Red Flash’s offense.
Wilke earned the start and took the loss for Saint Francis.
