Women's Water Polo

APU Hangs on in Thriller for Fifth

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RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Fifth-seed Azusa Pacific build a big early lead then held on down the stretch to claim a thrilling 13-12 win over sixth-seed Santa Clara in the fifth place game of the 2022 Golden Coast Conference Women's Water Polo Championships on Saturday.

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APU built a 4-1 with less than a minute left in the first quarter. Santa Clara would storm back to tie the game at 6-6 with a Harper Davis goal with 2:21 to play in the first half. APU would get goals from Maritza Ochoa and Shyanne Rainey to bookend the first and second half to take an 8-6 lead.

Santa Clara would comeback again, tying the game at 9-9 with four seconds left in the third quarter on a goal from Kate Rodman. 

APU would score three of the next four goals to take a 13-10 lead with 4:51 to play on Kyra Kahahawai's goal. Santa Clara would get back-to-back goals from Lauren Baglietto to make it 13-12 with 1:21 to play. They would never get the equalizer.

Baglietto led SCU (7-21) with three goals. Montana White led APU (9-16) with four goals.