FRESNO, Calif.  – The Fresno Pacific men's soccer team picked up three points in PacWest Conference action on Thursday, defeating Dixie State 3-1 at Ramirez Field.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Fresno Pacific 3, Dixie State 1
Records: FPU (6-9-0, 5-5-0 PacWest), DSU (11-4-0, 7-4-0 PacWest)
Location: Ramirez Field | Fresno, Calif.
Series: FPU leads 3-2-0
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Sunbirds were off and running early with a goal less than five minutes into the match, allowing them to carry a 1-0 lead into halftime.   
• FPU got a second goal early in the second half, but the Trailblazers answered to get on the board 11 minutes later.
• The Blue and Orange added an insurance goal to push the lead to 3-1 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.      
SCORING:
• (4:17) Fellipe Souza handled a perfect cross from Anthony Velarde, scoring his ninth goal of the season on a header to the lower left corner.
• (63:36) Velarde added his second assist of the game after his corner kick found the foot of Sergio Segura in the box.
• (74:34) Mitch Wilkinson put the Trailblazers on the board with a shot to the left corner of the net.
• (80:58) Reece Rivera recorded his first career goal after Souza's free kick pass.  

Check out the goals from Souza, Segura and Rivera that powered #FPUMSOC over Dixie State on Thursday night!#TeamFPU #PacWestMSOC ?????? pic.twitter.com/JlGdE7dc15

— FPU Sunbirds (@fpusunbirds) October 27, 2017

 

STATS OF THE GAME:
• Fresno Pacific outshot their guests 20-6, including a mark of 10-5 on frame.
• The Sunbirds earned five of the game's seven corner kicks.
• DSU's Zach Nielson tallied seven saves between the pipes, while FPU counterpart Patrick Timmer needed just four to earn the win.   

BEYOND THE BOX:
• The win gives FPU a slight edge in the series, as the Sunbirds improve to 3-2-0 all-time against Dixie State.
• With one more score, Anthony Velarde would become the second Sunbird in as many years to record at least 10 goals and 10 assists in a season. Jorge Chedraui did so last year, leading FPU in total points for the third time in his career.
 
UP NEXT:
• Fresno Pacific begins a three-game road swing on Monday, when they take on Hawai'i Hilo. Opening whistle in Hilo is slated for 10 p.m. PST.