Fresno Pacific played neck-and-neck with defending PacWest champion Point Loma on Saturday, before two late goals propelled the Sea Lions to a 2-0 win. The Sunbirds (5-4-1, 3-2 PacWest) played evenly with the Sea Lions (7-3, 4-1 PacWest) but would not have enough left in the tank down the stretch as the team surrendered goals in the 72nd and 84th minutes.
"When you go against a team that was in the NCAA tournament last year and you can match their intensity, that's something to be proud of," said head coach
Rob Podeyn. "Ultimately when they had their chances they finished, and we didn't. That comes from a maturity of a team that's been in those tight games and knows how to win them. We're a team that's learning and improving but we're not quite there yet. We're in that process, we're definitely improving and getting better, and I'm proud of the effort we showed today."
Emily Pedlowe put the Sea Lions on the board in the 72nd minute and Easton Kawawaki also scored for the Sea Lions.
FPU out-shot the Sea Lions for much of the match but ultimately PLNU held a 12-11 shot advantage. Defending PacWest Goalkeeper of the Year Ariel Oriarte recorded a shutout in goal with five saves.
The Sunbirds are back in action next Wednesday, traveling to San Francisco to take on Academy of Art.
