SAN DIEGO – Fresno Pacific opened play at the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) Championships on Friday at Aztec Aquaplex. The seventh-seeded Sunbirds came out strong against the second-seeded Pacific Tigers, but FPU couldn't overcome a tough second half to fall 13-4.
 
The Sunbirds (9-16) move into the consolation game against sixth-seed Azusa Pacific tomorrow at 12 p.m. The Tigers (15-16) advance to Saturday's semifinals and will face third-seed California Baptist at 1:30 p.m.
 
FPU jumped on the scoreboard first with a goal from Mikayla Scheer at the 5:13 mark. Pacific followed with a 3-0 run before Emily Knowles found the back of the cage before the first period ended to make the score 3-2.
 
The Tigers then took control of the game with a 3-0 second period to lead 6-2 at the intermission. Pacific closed out the win with seven second-half goals.
 
Knowles led the charge for FPU offensively with three goals, while Scheer added the final score. Nia Apodaca, Alyssa Stevens and Emily Marr added an assist apiece.
 
Courtney Hall played well for the Sunbirds in goal and amassed 14 saves and one steal. Marr added two steals.
 
Pacific held the Sunbirds to 1-of-7 on power plays, and converted all three of its own. Karolina Hlavata led the Tigers with four goals.