Gm 1: #1 USC 26, FPU 2
Gm 2: FPU 6, Redlands 5

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Sunbirds captured their first win of the season taking down Redlands 6-5 on day one of the Lancer Invitational. Kelsie Harvey stopped 13 shots and picked up two steals in the win.

Junior Mallory Rettig netted two goals for Fresno Pacific (1-6) in the win to lead the Sunbirds. Alyssa Stevens, Kaeli Hanson, Candice Cobarrubias and Nia Apodaca also scored for FPU. The Bulldogs were ranked seventh in Division III coming into the match. 

"We are really proud of our girls and how they played," said head coach Bryan Suhovy. "It feels great to get a win under our belts, and we are ready to come out strong again tomorrow."

Each team scored a pair in the first quarter and one in the second leaving the match tied at the break. In the fourth quarter the Sunbirds jumped out to a one-goal lead scoring on their first possession of the frame. With 1:48 remaining in the game Cobarrubias netted a goal to push FPU's lead to two. Redlands drew a penalty on its next possession pulling to within one, but that is as close as they would get.

FPU got to shake off the rust from a three-week layoff with a showdown against reigning NCAA Champion and No. 1 Southern California. Emily Marr got on the board in the third quarter with 2:47 remaining to make it 18-2 before USC closed the match on a 8-0 run. 

"I'm happy with the way our girls played against the reigning champions. We stepped up and played confidently," said head coach Bryan Suhovy. "This was a good game to get back up to top flight water polo after our layoff."

Fresno Pacific will take on Pomona-Pitzer and Occidental tomorrow on day two of the Lancer Invite.