Box Score

After losing a one-goal lead midway through the second half, the Sunbirds rallied with a pair of goals late to win FPU's first ever PacWest Conference Championship.
 
"I am so proud of this team," said head coach Jaime Ramirez. "When we started the season, in our very first meeting, we said our number one goal was to win the conference. Credit to these guys buying into our system and making adjustments all year long with a lot of new key pieces that we brought in. We always talk about the process and it was a long one, but it was so good to see the result of all their hard work. This is a huge step for our program"
 
The Sunbirds become the first team at Fresno Pacific to win a PacWest title in just the second year in the conference and the NCAA. FPU finished second in the conference last season just four points behind now departed Grand Canyon.
 
Jorge Chedraui hit the game-winner on an assist from Renato Bustamante in the 72nd minute. Chedraui finishes the regular season as the leading goal scorer for FPU with 13. Bustamante recorded his sixth assist, tied for second most on the team, and added the games first goal in the 60th minute. Gustavo Silva scored in the 79th minute for the Sunbirds to ice the match. 
 
The Sunbirds struggled to find clear opportunities in the first half putting just one shot on goal in the period. A strong and tall Urban Knights lineup created problems for FPU in the first half and kept them from capitalizing on chances on corner kicks.
 
"They were an extremely good team. They were so technical and their size was a big factor as well," said Ramirez. "I think they are one of the most technically sound teams in this conference."
 
Fresno Pacific came out determined to capture the crown in the second half creating multiple chances before finally putting away their first midway through the half.
 
Senior goalkeeper Fabian Rangel stopped five of six shots on goal; the lone goal for the Urban Knights came on a penalty kick in the 66th minute.
 
The Sunbirds have rallied from a slow offensive start to the season in which the most dangerous offense in the conference scored just twice in its first three matches. The men rebounded to finish with a conference-high 54 goals in the regular season.
 
"We started the year so slowly offensively, but we kept telling the guys that it is a process," said Ramirez. "We were worried about how we would replace guys like Paul Islas, Rodrigo Vianna and Fabricio Nazare, and we had guys step up all year long. Renato and Jorge have been huge for us this season as newcomers and our returners and senior leaders have provided the backbone for our season."
 
Fresno Pacific finishes the regular season 13-4-1 overall and 10-2 in conference. Their head-to-head victory over Azusa Pacific on October 30 gives FPU the outright conference championship. The Sunbirds will now host the NCCAA West Region Championships as they try to advance to the NCCAA National Tournament for a second straight year.
 
"We have accomplished our first goal. Now we have to understand there is a lot of soccer left and we have to be ready for that," said Ramirez.