*For this postseason match, all tickets are $3 (including FPU students & staff). The first 50 FPU students get in FREE courtesy of FPU Student Life.

Fresno Pacific has earned the top seed in the 2013 West Region Playoffs after finishing 13-4-1 and winning the PacWest Championship and will host No. 4 Bethesda on Saturday in one of two West Region Semifinals.

The Sunbirds overcame a disappointing four-match Hawaii trip in which they went 2-2 to win their final five matches including a huge 3-2 win over No. 2 Azusa Pacific at Ramirez Field on October 30.

Scouting Bethesda

The Flames come into the weekend with a 5-13 record after losing a number of close matches to quality NAIA opponents.

Bethesda has dropped four straight matches including a 2-0 loss to Cal State San Marcos, a team the Sunbirds beat 3-0 in their first match after returning from Hawaii. Early in the season BUC fell to Westmont College in identical fashion to the Sunbirds in a 2-1 loss.

Bethesda ranks 32nd in the NCCAA in goals scored this season with 30 and is also near the bottom in total assists and total points. Defensively the Flames have allowed 1.75 goals per match in 18 matches while throwing no shutouts and allowing 30 goals. Their zero goals differential on the season is the lowest of any team in the West Region playoffs. Arizona Christian sits at plus nine, Azusa Pacific at plus-12 and the Sunbirds sit at the top with a massive plus-28 goal differential.

BUC does have one of the top goalies in the NCCAA in Hyeokjin Choi who ranks 17th in the nation in goals allowed at 1.47 per match, one spot ahead of FPU keeper Fabian Rangel at 1.51.

Scouting Fresno Pacific

The Sunbirds have once again stood out as one of the top offensive teams, not only in the NCCAA, but also in Division II with 54 goals this season, which ranks fifth in the NCCAA and fifth in DII. Although FPU has just one double-digit goal scorer, the Sunbirds do have one of the most balanced offensive attacks around.

Freshman Jorge Chedraui leads the team in goals with 13 followed by Renato Bustamante and Gustavo Silva with nine, and Alvaro Nogales with seven. Another freshman, Joey Belzil, has scored five goals, as three of the Sunbirds top five point scorers are newcomers to the program.

Despite not having the explosive firepower of a season ago, FPU has still managed to break the three-goal barrier five times including a 6 goal outburst over 2012 NCAA playoff team Notre Dame de Namur.

In goal the Sunbirds boast one of the best goalkeepers in the business who has managed to keep a defense intact that has experienced a ton of turnover at various times throughout this season due to injury. Rangel ranks fifth in the NCCAA, amongst NCAA teams, in goals allowed per match.

Game Notes

Fresno Pacific and Bethesda University of California will meet for the first time in men's soccer when the two face off on Saturday at Ramirez Field. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The winner will move on to face the winner of No. 2 Azusa Pacific and No. 3 Arizona Christian next weekend. That match is being held in Azusa on Saturday.