Fresno Pacific was unable to overcome the absence of three starters in a 4-0 loss to the No. 8 team in Division II Grand Canyon.

FPU allowed three second-half goals in the loss that drops them below .500 at 2-3.

Pre-season Pac West Player of the Year Saeed Robinson was the driving force behind the Antelopes (4-1) assisting on two goals while scoring one of his own.

The Sunbirds were stifled on offense and unable to build up a passing rhythm all night long as the pressure by the GCU defense remained constant throughout.

“I was disappointed in the guys,” said head coach Jaime Ramirez. “I really felt that with the lineup that we had we were going to have a number of opportunities, but we didn't have the consistency in those opportunities and it affected us in terms of rhythm.

FPU was able to hang with the 'Lopes in the first half until O'Shane Brown scored off a blocked shot from Robinson that bounced right to his foot.

Immediately following the goal the Sunbirds were unable to push forward and lacked their usual quick passing attack that has proven so potent in the first few matches.

“We didn't leave it all out there on the field tonight,” said defender Luke Tyler. “Today we got shut out, which doesn't happen with the offense that we have.”

The second half was no better for Fresno Pacific. Again FPU was unable to find a rhythm missing several crosses and failing to threaten the 'Lopes on multiple corner kicks.

The inability to significantly challenge the Grand Canyon defense led to a lot of opportunities the other way as holes began to open up in the back end of the Sunbirds defense.

There was one great chance for a score as forward Paul Islas was on the receiving end of an excellent pass. Islas juked the goalkeeper and punched it towards the net. Grand Canyon defender Alex Connally slid in to kick the ball out but instead pushed the ball out of the net with his hand.

The referees missed the call and the Sunbirds remained without a goal.

Grand Canyon, already up 2-0, continued to play their precision passing attack to perfection and rattled in two more goals for the 4-0 victory.

“They were very good at find the little spaces,” said Ramirez. “They really began to play by memory.”

The absence of midfielders Fabricio Nazare and Eric Velarde made it difficult for the Sunbirds to find their usual creativity on offense and their stinginess defensively in the midfield that had become a trademark in recent games.

“For me it was obvious we were missing a creator in the middle; someone like Fabricio who gives guys like Paul and Rodrigo and Alvaro opportunities to score,” said Ramirez. “Also missing a guy who is the pulse of the team like Eric Velarde, we didn't really have anyone to recover balls for us.”

Fresno Pacific will be in Hawaii for four games beginning with their match against Hawaii Hilo on September 22.