Box Score

NCCAA National Championship Bracket & Information

Top-seeded Fresno Pacific earned a spot in the NCCAA National Championships in Florida with a 3-1 victory over #3-seed California Baptist.

The Sunbirds (16-4) got two goals and an assist from senior Paul Islas in his final home match. Chris Young added second goal to give FPU some cushion in the 73rd minute. California Baptist (13-5-1) added a goal late but they were unable to complete the comeback bid late.
 
Fresno Pacific capitalized on an early miscue by the California Baptist defense. Islas stripped the CBU defense and used his speed to get a one-on-one opportunity against PacWest Goalkeeper of the year Joey Pacheco. Islas took the chance and slotted it past Pacheco for the early 1-0 lead.

The Lancers immediately pushed back pinning the FPU defense back in their half for the remainder of the first half. Some excellent work by Luke Tyler and Ivan Mirkovic kept CBU out of the net.

The pressure continued and disrupted an offense that is accustomed to keeping the majority of the possession. California Baptist continued to have the better of the opportunities early in the second half which ultimately culminated in a one-on-one chance for Marc Hope against Fabian Rangel. Rangel made a great sprawling save to keep the lead.

The Sunbirds started to regain control of the game and maintain possession which allowed them to buildup in the run of play. Young put a cross from Islas in the back of the net and FPU took a 2-0 lead. Islas added the third goal on a through ball from Alvaro Nogales. He beat Pacheco with a rocket shot and sealed the game and the championship for Fresno Pacific.

FPU secured a National Championship berth in their first season in the NCCAA by defeating the defending champions California Baptist. The Sunbirds have not lost a match since a 3-2 loss to Hawaii Pacific in late September.  

Tyler Garrison scored for the Lancers in the 84th minute. The FPU win avenged a 4-2 loss to the Lancers earlier this season, a game in which the Sunbirds led 2-0 before receiving two red cards and playing the rest of the way with nine players.

The NCCAA National Championships begin November 28 in Kissimmee, Florida. Other teams that have punched their tickets to the national tournament include three teams transitioning to the NCAA Division II as FPU is: McMurry (TX), Roberts Wesleyan (NY) and Union (TN). Also qualifying is Grace (IN) and Palm Beach Atlantic (FL), along with NCCAA #1-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan, who was undefeated up until today when they were eliminated in the first round of the NAIA national tournament (OWU is expected to accept an at-large bid).

For more results of NCCAA Regionals, click here