Fresno Pacific played well in two close games against NCAA D1 teams at the Roadrunner Invitational in Bakersfield, but came up short in a 5-4 double-overtime loss to Wagner and an 8-4 loss to Bucknell. Kelsie Harvey made 21 saves on the day to lead a Sunbird defense that kept the team in both games.

The Sunbirds fell behind 3-0 at halftime against Wagner, a team that defeated them 10-3 earlier in the season, but would fight back with a tenacious defense that held Wagner to just one goal in the second half. Down 4-2, Nicolette Haley would score with 2:17 to play before Jaimie Lugo found the net with 33 seconds left to tie it.

Both teams would battle in the two overtimes before Wagner's Lauren French scored with 1:36 left in the second and FPU would be unable to tie it up again.

After spending up so much energy in the first game, the Sunbirds fell 8-4 to Bucknell later in the afternoon as the Bison outscored FPU 3-1 in the fourth quarter. Lugo, Jenna Morris, Krista Loper and Katlin Hicks each scored for the Sunbirds and Harvey made 11 saves.

"The girls played very well against two strong East Coast Division 1 teams," said head coach Bryan Suhovy. "Losing to Wagner by seven goals a few weeks ago, then taking them into overtime this weekend shows a tremendous amount of growth. They executed the gameplan and maintained a high level of play. We are gettting smarter and stronger as the season progresses and I'm very proud of how hard they're working."

The Sunbirds play at Cal State East Bay on Friday at 1 pm.


Wagner 5, Fresno Pacific 4 (2 OT)
                                                1       2       3       4       OT1     OT2     F
Wagner                                   2       1       0       1         0           1       5
Fresno Pacific                        0       0       2       2        0           0       4

Wagner Goals-Lauren French 2, Ashton Cline 1, Chelsea Beck 1, Molly Robinson 1.

Wagner Saves-Laura Karbah 13

Fresno Pacific Goals-Jaimie Lugo, Krista Loper, Nicolette Haley, Dani Mortimer

Fresno Pacific Saves-Kelsie Harvey 10


Bucknell 8, Fresno Pacific 4
                                     1       2       3       4       F
Bucknell                     1       3       1       3       8
Fresno Pacific          1       0       2       1       4

Bucknell Goals-Julianne Valdes 3, Halie Kennan 2, Barbara Peterson 1, Stephanie Ovalle 1, Krystle Morgan 1.

Bucknell Saves-Rena Heim 2

Fresno Pacific Goals- Jaimie Lugo, Jenna Morris, Krista Loper, Katlin Hicks.

Fresno Pacific Saves- Kelsie Harvey 11