FRESNO, Calif. – Hannah Holly's goal with 43 seconds remaining made the difference for the Fresno Pacific women's water polo team on Saturday afternoon, as the Sunbirds rallied for a 6-5 comeback win over Sonoma State at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.
 
FPU snaps a five-game skid with the victory and moves to 13-11 overall. The 13 wins match a program record set back in 2009. Sonoma State falls to 7-17 overall after dropping the season series to the Sunbirds 2-1.
 
FPU trailed the Seawolves 3-1 after a strong defensive showing from both teams in the first half. The Sunbirds then found their rhythm offensively in the second half, scoring five times for the come-from-behind win.
 
Kaitlin Groothuyzen's long-range goal with 3:34 left knotted the game at five apiece before Julia Ponce found Holly, who fired a shot near post to beat the diving goalie for the game-winning goal. FPU held strong defensively the next possession before running out the clock.
 
Emily Knowles led the Sunbirds with a hat trick, while Ponce, Groothuysen and Holly rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece. Ponce added two assists. The Sunbirds were efficient on power-play opportunities, finishing the afternoon 4-of-9.
 
Senior Courtney Hall led the charge defensively for the Sunbirds and tallied 11 saves in the cage. Amber Penney added three steals as FPU totaled 10 as a team.
 
Cassidy Mundt led SSU with two goals, while Taylor Plorin added seven saves and three steals.
 
The Sunbirds are back in action on Thursday, April 6 in Golden Coast Conference play at Azusa Pacific. The game is slated for a 5 p.m. start at Charter Oak High School.