SAN FRANCISCO – Fresno Pacific jumped back in the win column on Wednesday, as the Sunbirds used two second-half goals to take down Academy of Art, 3-2, in PacWest action at Fairmont Field.
 
The Sunbirds improve to 8-2-2 overall and 5-1-1 in the PacWest with the win, which moves them into a tie with Dixie State atop the league standings with 16 points. ARTU falls to 5-4-2 overall and 3-2-1 in the PacWest.
 
FPU led from start-to-finish after its opening shot of the game found the back of the net in only the second minute of action. Jorge Chedraui headed home a cross from Renato Bustamante and Alvaro Nogales for his PacWest-leading 10th goal of the year.  The Sunbirds took the 1-0 lead into the intermission.
 
After both sides exchanged shots in the first 20 minutes of the second half, Joey Belzil finally found the back of the net in the 73rd minute for FPU. Bustamante was credited with the assist after his cross found Belzil on the right side of the box, who then fired far post for his seventh goal of the season.
 
"Joey's goal came at a very appropriate time and was a rocket," said head coach Jaime Ramirez. " It was a very unselfish play from our offense. We created several opportunities throughout the match, but we were struggling to find the net.  The 2-0 lead gave us some breathing room."
 
After ARTU answered in the 75th minute, FPU wasted no time in extending its lead back to two after Joao Ravasio tallied his first goal of the season in the 78th minute from 30 yards out. Anthony Velarde recorded the assist. The Urban Knights scored in the 80th minute to make the final 3-2.
 
"Coming off a tough loss, both mentally and physically, it's big to earn three road points," said Ramirez. "I was a little disappointed in our first-half execution of the game plan, but the guys responded in the second half. Academy of Art is a dynamic team and they came at us with a very vertical attack. We were too comfortable with the ball and took too long to get the ball from the back, to the middles and then to the front, which caused a lot of pressure on us throughout the match."
 
FPU out-shot ARTU 29-12 in the match, which resulted in a 14-6 advantage in shots on goal.  The Sunbirds generated four corner kicks.
 
Andrew Luis earned his fifth win of the season for FPU in goal and finished with four saves.
 
The Sunbirds return home this Saturday, Oct. 17 to face the defending PacWest champions, Azusa Pacific. The Cougars are currently 3-1-1 in league play and sit in a tie for third with 10 points. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Ramirez Field.