FRESNO, Calif.  – The Fresno Pacific men's soccer team was tripped up on Saturday night, falling 5-3 to Azusa Pacific at Ramirez Field.   

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Azusa Pacific 5, Fresno Pacific 3
Records: APU (4-9-1, 4-5-1 PacWest), FPU (5-9-0, 4-5-0 PacWest)
Location: Ramirez Field | Fresno, Calif.
Series: FPU leads 28-25-3
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
• FPU opened the scoring early, but the visiting Cougars were able to find the equalizer eight minutes later.
• The Sunbirds added a goal before the intermission to take a 2-1 lead into halftime, but APU answered with a pair of goals 11 minutes into the second half.
• Fresno Pacific again pulled even in the game's 63rd minute, but APU poured in two more scores.
• The offensive attack for the Sunbirds never stopped, but the Cougars were able to hang on for the victory.      

SCORING:
• (4:57) Fellipe Souza trickled a ball into the net after the APU keeper came out too early.
• (12:33) Bruno Pagani received a pass from Kaleb Armbrust inside the box, turning it into APU's first score of the night.
• (35:04) Anthony Velarde's corner kick led Bruno Brumati perfectly, and the latter answered with a shot to the lower left to again give FPU a lead.
• (56:14) Rene Santos' initial shot was saved by FPU keeper Santiago Covarrubias, but the ball bounced right back to Santos, allowing him a second chance effort.
• (57:24) Arturo Astorga shook his defender to set up a one-on-one opportunity with the goalie.
• (62:04) Velarde passed inside the box, where he found Gabriel Batista. Batista launched to the lower corner to pull the Birds even.
• (65:54) After a perfect cross from Ethan Hopkins, Stephen Flora gave the Cougars their final lead of the night with his first score of the season.
• (76:06) Astorga connected with Alaksandar Pumpalovic, who shot to the lower left for the game's last goal.

STATS OF THE GAME:
• FPU outshot their guests 26-12, including a mark of 14-10 on frame.
• The Sunbirds earned five of the game's 11 corner kicks.
• Covarrubias picked up four saves in his season debut, while APU counterpart Brendan Fix tallied a career-high 10.

BEYOND THE BOX:
• For Azusa Pacific, the victory breaks a skid of five consecutive losses in Fresno.
• Saturday's 26 shots is the most the Sunbirds have taken in a game this season.
 
UP NEXT:
• Fresno Pacific returns to action on Thursday, when they host Dixie State in the final home game of the year. Opening whistle is slated for 7:30 p.m. from Ramirez Field.