SEASIDE, Calif. – Fresno Pacific used a five-goal third period to down Cal State Monterey Bay, 12-11, on Saturday at the CSUMB Aquatic Center.
 
FPU improves to 2-2 overall on the year with the win, while the Otters sink to 0-7 overall.  
 
Emily Marr and Kaeli Hanson led the way for the Sunbirds with three goals apiece in the win. Julia Ponce and Alyssa Stevens added two scores each, while Kaitlin Fletcher and Nia Apodaca rounded out the scoring with a goal apiece.
 
The Sunbirds assisted on 11-of-12 goals on the day, highlighted by Stevens' five. Fletcher added four assists, while Marr and Apodaca dished out the final helpers.
 
FPU opened up the third quarter with a 4-0 scoring run to take control of the game. The Sunbirds earned their largest lead of five goals, 10-5, with 3:36 left in the period after a goal from Hanson. The Otters cut the lead to one with 6:37 left in the game, but Apodaca answered for the Sunbirds with the would-be game-winner three minutes later.
 
FPU held CSUMB to 2-of-8 on power plays and grabbed eight steals on the day. Ponce led the way with four thefts. Courtney Hall provided 10 saves in the cage for the Sunbirds.
 
Maggie Albers led the Otters with a hat trick.

"We came out a little flat today, but accomplished our goal," said head coach Bryan Suhovy. "We have some things we need to work on during our off week coming up. All-in-all, I'm very proud of our girls for their hard work and determination to start this season."
 
FPU is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 20 against Cal State East Bay in Hayward.