Undefeated Hawai’i spoils Cougars first home game, defeating APU 20-3
After eight matches on the road, Azusa Pacific’s water polo team finally hosted a home contest for the first time this season. The Cougars faced Hawai’i for the second straight match, dropping both to the Rainbow Wahine 17-4 and 20-3, respectively.
Hawai’i dominated the first period, scoring six goals in the opening eight minutes. The Rainbow Wahine defense was exceptional as they didn’t allow a goal in the first period of play. In fact, Hawai’i didn’t allow a goal until there was 1:53 left in the second period. The goal was scored by APU senior Sarah Adams, and she made it two goals just a minute later giving APU a pair of tallies before the second period came to an end.
“The score total wasn’t favoring us, and I just knew we had to get it in the back of the net somehow,” Adams said. “The second goal was a rebound in which I was given an opportunity and I was able to take it. The first goal was near the end of the shot clock, so I figured why not just throw it up and see what happens.”
Despite the scoring streak from the Cougars they were still down by eight heading into the third. Up to this point, Hawai’i’s attacker Alba Bonamusa Boix was the hero of the game, scoring four goals in the first half of play. Hawai’i’s brilliance only continued in the third and fourth periods.
Hawai’i’s 10-2 lead grew to a 16-2 difference once the third period came to an end. The fourth period only continued to prove the inevitable, as the Rainbow Wahine scored four more goals to APU’s one. When the final horn sounded, the Cougars home opener ended in a 20-3 defeat, their seventh loss of the season. The Rainbow Wahine, on the other hand, are a perfect 9-0 to begin their season.
While the goal total did not favor APU, the Cougars were not far behind Hawai’i in terms of shots. The Rainbow Wahine collected 33 shots once the contest came to fruition, while the Cougars earned 22 shots. Ultimately, it was the Cougars’ inability to get the ball past goalkeeper Molly DiLalla, who had eight saves compared to one goal allowed, that cost them the match.
APU’s goalkeeper, Olivia Lott, while taking the loss, also had a strong outing making six saves in her 16 minutes in goal.
Surely the team was hoping for a different result on Wednesday night. However, head coach Julie Snodgrass sees the progress her team is making and noted that it is important to consider the level of talent her squad is playing.
“Hawai’i’s ranked third nationally, so being able to play them has been really good,” Snodgrass said. “We kept fighting, especially considering the number of rotations we had to use. I definitely see us growing in terms of offensive movement and creativity, so I’m proud of them for continuing to compete and grow throughout this match.”
It has been an incredibly difficult schedule so far for this Cougars side. Out of the nine games played so far, APU has faced NCAA Division I programs six times. Junior Hannah Bradley, who scored a goal late in this contest, noticed her team has been willing to take on the challenge.
“It’s still early in the season, and our schedule has been probably the toughest it has ever been. So we’re just trying to compete against these DI teams, and while we aren’t matching them on the scoreboard we’re just looking to give them a good game,” Bradley said.
The Cougars will continue their season against yet another DI program in Fresno State on the road on Friday. The match begins at 5 p.m.