Gm 1: CLU 8, FPU 7
Gm 2: #15 UCSB 14, FPU 4

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - On the first day of competition in the Posada Royale Invitational, Fresno Pacific faced California Lutheran. In game one, FPU fell to CLU 8-7 after getting early control of the game and entering intermission with one goal advantage. The Sunbirds returned to the pool to face #15 UC Santa Barbara and played with more focus but fell 14-4. 

"We had control of the game through the first half but struggled to maintain our composure in the second," said head coach Bryan Suhovy. "We have to learn to stay consistent and maintain composure as we get those leads."

Goalie Kelsie Harvey had a solid performance throughout the contest with seven saves and five steals. Offensively, Nia Apodaca and Alyssa Stevens each scored two goals for the Sunbirds.

Apodaca scored the opening goal of the contest and a go ahead goal came from Stevens at the end of the first quarter. The match became tied until Apodaca scored her second goal with .24 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give FPU the lead heading into intermission. FPU maintained the lead by matching goal for goal in the third quarter. Candice  Cobarrubis scored the her lone goal for FPU in the beginning of the fourth quarter extending the led to two but Jordan Card of CLU went on a scoring run netting three goals and giving CLU the victory by a single goal. 

In their second match of the day, the Sunbirds fell to #15 UCSB 14-4. 

Apodaca scored her third goal of the day in the first quarter bringing the Sunbirds within one goal at the end of the first quarter. UCSB  kept the Sunbirds off the score board during the second quarter while adding six goals of their own to enjoy a seven-goal advantage going into intermission. The offense hit a drought that extended thru the third quarter but the Sunbirds kept their intensity high throughout the game and out scored UCSB 3-2 in the fourth quarter. 

"We played with more composure throughout all four quarters," said Suhovy. "Our young players got a lot of minutes and were able to maintain the level of intensity. It was a good game to regroup and get to our game plan. We're ready to play hard tomorrow."

The Sunbirds return to their final day of competition in the Posada Royale Invitational tomorrow at 8:00 am facing La Verne followed by Chapman at 3:30 pm.