BOX SCORE

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Briana Utas had six points (five goals) and Szamira Koppany had seven points (four assists) to lead No. 2 seed and 12th-ranked Pacific to a 14-10 win over Azusa Pacific in the opening game of the 2023 Golden Coast Conference Championships Friday morning at the Aztec Aquaplex.

Pacific (21-7) jumped out to a 6-2 lead and then held off a scrappy Azusa Pacific (14-11) down the stretch to advance to their ninth semifinal. They have been to every semifinal since the league began in 2014. The No. 6 seeded Cougars were led by Kyra Kahahawai with three goals.

Pacific led 6-2 after the first and led 8-3 after a Koppany with just over five mintues left in the second quarter. APU then score three of the next four to cut the lead to 9-6 at the half.

APU then cut the lead to two, 11-9, on a Maritza Ochoa goal with 1:09 to play in the third quarter. They would get no closer as Pacific score three straight to put the game away.

Pacific will play in the first semifinal on Saturday at 2 pm against the winner of LMU and Santa Clara.