Fresno Pacific fought through three matches on Saturday, falling to Whittier 9-4, Occidental 11-5 and Cal State San Bernardino 7-6. The Sunbirds were forced to battle through injuries all day being limited to only eight players on the weekend.
Dani Mortimer and Samantha Clark led the Sunbirds with four goals apiece on the day while Jennifer Cobb and Nia Apodaca poured in three as well. Candice Cobarrubias scored the final goal to round out the scoring for FPU on the weekend while Kelsie Harvey played well in the cage in the three matches.
“The weekend didn't play out as we had hoped,” said head coach Bryan Suhovy. “Three games in one day is a lot at this level, especially coming into the weekend with only one sub on the bench.”
FPU 4, Whittier 9
The Sunbirds jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first period following an Apodaca goal in game one.
Whittier responded with seven unanswered goals to take the lead 7-1 before a Cobb goal brought the score to 7-2 heading into the final period.
FPU went down fighting receiving goals from Mortimer and Clark but the deficit proved too much to overcome as the Sunbirds fell 9-4.
FPU 5, Occidental 11
The Sunbirds fell behind 2-0 early in the second game of the day but battled back and cut the Occidental lead at halftime to one, 4-3. FPU received goals from Apodaca, Cobarrubias and Cobb in the half.
The second half proved to be the difference in the game, however, as the Sunbirds were outscored 7-2 in the half. Apodaca scored a goal in the third period to cut the lead to 6-4 before Occidental went on a run to put the game out of reach and win 11-5. Clark scored in the final period to round out the scoring for FPU in the match.
FPU 6, CSUSB 7
Cobb had the Sunbirds on the scoreboard early in the first period before Mortimer scored twice and Clark chipped in with another in the second to trail Cal State San Bernardino 5-4 at halftime.
The Sunbirds proceeded to tie the game 5-5 in the third following another Clark goal before CSUSB answered with two goals of their own to go up 7-5.
Mortimer tried to rally the Sunbirds back in the fourth with a goal to cut the lead to one, but the depleted Sunbirds could not muster another goal playing with no subs in the final half after Emily Marr fouled out to fall 7-6.
“I'm proud of the girls for their heart and determination today,” said Suhovy. “We have some adjustments to make before our next game, but the experience gained this weekend will set us up for a lot of success down the road.”
