Box Score
The Sunbirds were held to just one goal for the first time in over a month, but still cemented their place in the NCCAA postseason with a 1-0 win over Notre Dame de Namur.
“It was a huge victory for a number of reasons,” said head coach Jaime Ramirez. “It puts us into the playoffs and we were in a must win situation, and young men performed. They were on fire playing on both ends of the field.”
Gustavo Silva headed in the game's only goal early in the first half off the wonderful cross from Alvaro Nogales. It was Silva's sixth goal of the season.
The Sunbirds (14-4, 11-3) were forced to battle the heat and the narrow field which prevented them from combining and maintaining the majority of the possession as they are accustomed too.
Early on Fresno Pacific played the long ball and tried to break through the well-organized NDNU defense. Coming into the match the Argos had surrendered just 18 goals this season and only 10 in 10 home matches. The Sunbirds finally broke through on the Silva goal with a series of five consecutive passes to set up Nogales for the cross.
After the first goal FPU had a few more chances in the first half but the narrow and short field allowed the Argos to close on the strikers when they get free and keep the score at 1-0 heading into the break.
Early in the second half NDNU pushed back hard against the Sunbirds defense and goalkeeper Fabian Rangel came up with a couple of big saves that kept the Argos out of the net.
“You can't say enough about Fabian,” said Ramirez. “His play today I think keeps him in the conversation as the best goalkeeper in the PacWest. Fabian today was big.”
Rangel and the Sunbirds defense played tough on defense keeping the shutout, their ninth of the season and four in their last five matches.
“When we are healthy and everyone is on the pitch, I don't think we can lose,” said Ramirez. “I'd put us up against anyone in the country, I don't think we can lose. Our defense has been stellar.”
The Argos (13-4-1, 10-3-1) entered the day in second place in the PacWest.
The win for Fresno Pacific coupled with a loss for California Baptist against Grand Canyon and a win for Azusa Pacific puts the Sunbirds in the driving seat to host the NCCAA West Regional Playoff on the weekend of November 15. Official seeding will be released later this week.
