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Men's Soccer

Sunbirds unleash firepower on San Marcos

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Fresno Pacific mauled the Cal State San Marcos Cougars 4-0 in another stellar all-around performance from the Sunbirds.

A staunch defensive effort by the back four and a combination of goalkeepers Steven Waite and Fabian Rangel kept the Cougars (0-2-1) in check throughout.

“I'm very pleased with the result, I'm pleased with the shutout more importantly,” said Ramirez

Junior forward Bruno Pessoa led the charge in the Sunbirds attack knocking in two goals on the night and forwards Paul Islas, Alvaro Nogales and Fabricio Nazare each put up a pair of assists in the win.

The Sunbirds (2-1) dominated the run of play in the first half while the Cougars were content to compress their defense and try to limit FPU's chances.

Despite Cal State San Marcos' efforts Fresno Pacific still managed to find some holes in the Cougars' defense. Late in the first half the Sunbirds had a fantastic chance on the feed from Pesoa to Islas, who put it in the back of the net, but FPU was called offside and the game would remain scoreless heading into the break.

Late in the first half Waite was forced out of the game after a mid-air collision with one of the players from Cal State San Marcos left him with an abdominal contusion.

Out of the break Fresno Pacific was determined to put one in the net. Just two minutes into the half Islas ripped a shot at Cougars keeper Landon Sherwood who blocked it right to Pessoa for the easy goal that put the Sunbirds up by one and awoke the sleeping offense.

“It was just amazing to be back and help my team out,” said Pessoa.

In the 67th minute FPU struck again this time on a throw it by Islas that found its way to Guillermo Talancon who headed it in for the Sunbirds second of the game.

“I think tonight we really showed what our team can do on the attacking side,” said Islas. “We were able to get forward a lot better in the second half.”

Just two minutes later Pessoa found the back of the net again on the ball from Nogales who tallied his second assist of the night. Almost immediately following the kick-off Nazare put the ball through to Gustavo Silva, who was playing in his first game of the season, who fired it past Sherwood and put up Fresno Pacific's fourth goal of the match, the most the Sunbirds have put up this season.

Fantastic play in goal by Rangel and a relentless offensive attack kept the Cougars out of the net as the Sunbirds finished out the shutout, their second in a row. It was the first time FPU has blanked back-to-back opponents since a pair of 6-0 and 1-0 wins against San Diego Christian and UC Santa Cruz last season.

“I was really pleased at the fact that Fabian came in he was really at our level untested,” said Ramirez. “I thought he made some significant saves.”

The Sunbirds are back in action Thursday against California Baptist at Ramirez Field. Kick-off is set for 5 p.m.

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