SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Freshman Ella Cowan's winning goal in sudden death propelled No. 21 Pacific women's water polo to a 14-13 win over Azusa Pacific in the first round of the Golden Coast Conference Championship on Friday at Sullivan Aquatic Center.

"We needed a goal and I shot hard like I've been trying to all game," she said. "I'm proud of that goal and proud of the whole team. It was a team effort to get that. And it's exciting to go on and play in the semifinals."

Cowan led Pacific (16-9, 4-3 GCC) with a season-high six points on two goals and a season-high four assists. Sophomore Noemi Alaksza and junior Hila Futorian had five points apiece. Noemi Alaksza led the Tigers with four goals and notched one assist. Futorian registered three goals and two assists. Sophomore Dora Alaksza posted four points on three goals and one assist.

Freshman goalkeeper Maja Lizy Dulic grabbed seven saves while recording three steals.

The contest went back and forth in the first half. Azusa Pacific (15-13, 3-4 GCC) would take a 6-4 lead at halftime.

Pacific came out in the third period with three straight goals to go up 7-6 at the 2:51 mark. After the Cougars tied the game a minute later, Cowan and Noemi Alaksza notched back-to-back goals. The Tigers went into the fourth with a 9-8 advantage.

Futorian and senior Annikah Lillie kept Pacific up by two with 5:38 to go in regulation, 11-9. The Cougars responded with three consecutive goals to take back the lead, 12-11.

Eager to make the comeback, Noemi Alaksza found an opening for Pacific at 1:47 that tied the game at 12-all. Azusa Pacific attempted a shot in the final seconds but missed and the contest went into overtime.

The fifth and most of the sixth period was scoreless. Dulic made four saves during that time frame.

As 18 seconds showed on the clock during the sixth, Dora Alaksza threw the ball straight into the net for the 13-12 lead. But the Cougars tied the game at the buzzer to send the contest into sudden death.

Azusa Pacific had a chance to end the game at 2:46 after an exclusion was called on Lillie. The Cougars' shot attempt missed the cage, allowing Pacific to call timeout and advance the ball.

Out of the timeout, Dora Alaksza was caught between two defenders up top until she found Cowan on the right side. Cowan threw the ball passed the Cougars' goalkeeper which sealed the thrilling victory for the Tigers.

"I think it really speaks a lot, especially to the younger people stepping up," head coach Candice Vorbeck said. "We had Noemi who has scored eight goals this season and put four away today which is incredible. Ella is stepping up and she got the winning goal. Dora passed it off at the last second because she was covered. These kinds of experiences are really going to help us out as a program the next few years."

Up next, Pacific will face No. 9 Fresno State in the semifinals at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Ella with the WINNING goal in sudden death??

Tigers win????#WaterPoloU #PacificProud #DreamBig pic.twitter.com/iPEyLsAWUx

— Pacific Water Polo (@UOPWaterPoloU) April 26, 2024

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