Box scores
Riverside, Calif. – The FPU women's soccer team faced off today against #2 seeded Cal Baptist University in a Golden State Athletic Conference playoff first round matchup. Two first half Lancer goals proved too much for Fresno Pacific to overcome, allowing CBU to go on to win the game 3-1 and bring the Sunbird's 2008 season to a close.
Cal Baptist's Amanda Lammers put the Lancers ahead in the 3rd minute scoring off a cross served in by teammate Lindsey Merret from just outside the right side of the Sunbird's penalty area. FPU goalkeeper #Justine Caldera# made the initial save defelcting the ball off the crossbar ball, but it fell to Lammers who had positioned herself to tap it in and give CBU an early 1-0 lead.
The Lancers would quickly score again in the 11th minute when Merrett was played a ball in behind the FPU defensive line, creating a 1v1 with Caldera. Caldera would again make the initial save, but CBU's Kylee Nicassio was first to the deflected ball, converting the rebound to extend the Lancers lead to 2-0.
The Sunbirds were finally able to tighten up their defensive effort to end the first half at 2-0, with CBU having the edge in shots 9 to FPU's 3.
FPU came out in the second half with much more determination and purpose, putting the Lancers under pressure throughout most of the period.
The Sunbirds would finally get one back in the 69th minute when freshman #Shay Sample# converted a direct free kick from 40 yards out to score her first goal of the season. Sample was able to strike the ball up and over CBU's goalkeeper Emily Evanson into the upper left corner of the Lancer's goal to bring FPU back within one.
With the Sunbirds back in the game, they regained their belief and continued to create chances, but were unable to capitalize for the equalizer.
Cal Baptist's Kylee Nicassio would finally seal the deal for the Lancers in the 77th minute when she slammed in a low driven shot into the bottom left corner of the FPU net from 25 yards out to extend CBU's lead back to two, and end the Sunbirds hopes of a comeback. Although outshooting CBU 10 to 8 in the second half, the final score would end Lancers 3, Sunbirds 1.
“The two early goals really put us at a disadvantage against a quality team like Cal Baptist,” admitted Sunbird's head coach #Erik Farfan#. “But when considering our last game versus CBU which ended 7-2 in their favor, I was really proud of our team for continuing to battle and for finding a way back into the match. Despite the loss, we certainly feel that we have achieved our goals, had a successful year and are proud of what we have accomplished this season.”
This was just the second playoff appearance in the program's history (2004 & 2008) and only the third time the Sunbirds have finished with a winning record (2004, 2007, 2008). With the loss, FPU ends their 2008 campaign 8-7-2 overall.
