SEATTLE - Fresno Pacific saw its 2015 memorable season come to an end on Thursday, as the 10th-ranked Sunbirds fell to 23rd-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills, 3-2, in the NCAA Division II Championship opening round at a rainy and windy Interbay Stadium.

FPU concludes its season at 14-3-2 overall, while CSUDH moves to 15-2-3. The Sunbirds were playing in their first NCAA Championship in program history in their first season as active members. The Toros, who are making their 13th NCAA postseason appearance, will move on to face host and seventh-ranked Seattle Pacific in the second round on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The battle between two of the top teams in the West Region lived up to its billing, as the PacWest champion Sunbirds and California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) regular season champion Toros exchanged three lead changes throughout the match before the final whistle blew.

"It's one of those games that teaches you a lot about this level," said head coach Jaime Ramirez. "When you're new to this level and you experience this, you understand that it takes the full 90 minutes of commitment and staying organized and being true to your style and system. And it takes recognizing the adjustments your opponent makes, particularly in the second half."

The Sunbirds entered halftime with a 2-1 advantage before the Toros stormed back.

CSUDH struck first in the opening minute of action with a goal from Pedro Velasquez. The Sunbirds didn't let the setback affect them, however, and answered nine minutes later behind senior Eli Gallegos. After a Sunbird corner kick was cleared by the Toros' defense, Gallegos found the ball and fired from 19 yards out to equalize the game at 1-1. Alvaro Nogales then gave FPU the lead after Dylan Rusconi was taken down in the box for a penalty in the 33rd minute. Nogales fired the penalty into the right corner to put the Sunbirds up 2-1.

The difference in the game then came in the second half, as the Toros scored twice to earn the win. Israel Murguia equalized in the 51st minute before Velasquez scored the game-winner in the 76th.

The Sunbirds looked as if they had a 3-2 lead in their advantage in the 65th minute, but Benjamin Cowdrill's header was saved by the CSUDH defense on the goal line. The team save swung momentum in the Toros' favor.

"They took away our playmaking ability, and we had to rely on different aspects of the game and different individuals to make plays for us," said Ramirez about the second half. "We still have a lot to be proud of, especially with this graduating class. They have won two PacWest titles together and made history being the first team to make the NCAA Championships. I am very proud of what we have accomplished this season."

FPU's Andrew Luis played his final game in Sunbird orange and finished with five saves.

The Sunbirds will graduate nine seniors - Nogales, Gallegos, Luis, Dallas Whitlow, Renato Bustamante, Nick Starr, Emmanuel Ochoa, Chris Rosas and Martin Kams - who will always be part of the first team to make the NCAA postseason.

Bustamante ranks ninth in career assists (23) and 12th in career points (tied-75) in program history, while Nogales sits in third in career assists (34), sixth in career points (116) and seventh in career goals (41).