Three second-half goals propelled Fresno Pacific to a 3-0 season-opening win over Cal State East Bay on Thursday as Kelly Nikkel, Hannah Coyle and Bianka Garcia each scored for the Sunbirds. Coyle and Garcia, both freshmen, each tallied an assist as well in their Sunbird debuts.

Sarah King made four saves to post the shutout in goal behind a stellar defensive performance from the backline, that included another freshman starring in her debut, Alyssa Nakaguchi.

FPU came out agressive in the first half behind strong pressure from freshmen Jerrica Babb and Amber Rodriguez. After multiple chances to score had come up short, Nikkel got the scoring going in the 75th minute with a chip-shot over the CSUEB goalie's head. Garcia and Jessica Castillo assisted on the goal.

The Sunbirds then proceeded to score two more goals in the next six minutes to put the game away.

Coyle beat the defense after a pass from Sara Vega and buried a shot past the keeper to make it 2-0. Coyle then fed Garcia for an outside shot past the diving keeper for a 3-0 lead.

The backline of Nakaguchi, Caressa Archie, Clara Buettner and Brianna Reyes kept the Pioneers at bay for the remainder of the game.

"I've been working for this my whole soccer career and it feels really good to be here finally," said Coyle after the game. "I know last season they had trouble finishing so I'm glad I could come in and hopefully do that for us this year, along with all the other freshmen as well. We want to be number one this year. I know we're underdogs. We're supposed to be ranked ninth in our conference but we're looking to be up top."

The Sunbirds out-shot the Pioneers 21-9, including 14-3 in the second half.

"In the offseason that's something we were intent on bringing in: players that could give us an attacking punch and be effective in putting the ball in the back of the net," said head coach Erik Farfan. "I think we're going to have a great season in terms of increased offensive productivity and tonight was a great case of that. We feel like that was the missing piece of the puzzle last year and we have that now so we're excited."

It was the 12th anniversary of FPU's first ever win as a program during the program's inaugural season in 2001. Coincidentally that win was a 4-2 victory over Cal State East Bay.

FPU travels to Cal State Monterey Bay this Saturday to take on the Otters, another CCAA opponent, at 3 pm.