FRESNO, Calif.  – The Fresno Pacific men's soccer team opened PacWest Conference action on Thursday night, picking up a 4-2 victory over the Penguins of Dominican University.  
                                                                                    
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Fresno Pacific 4, Dominican 2
Records: Fresno Pacific (2-4-0, 1-0-0 PacWest), Dominican (3-2-0, 0-1-0 PacWest)
Location: Ramirez Field | Fresno, Calif.
Series: FPU leads 14-1-1
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QUOTABLE:
• "We struggled to get things early, but everybody was ready to play for the first conference game. We have confidence and the ability to score, so we knew we were eventually going to get some goals. This game gives us confidence going into the next game. We had to win tonight in order to keep morale up for our team." -  redshirt junior Anthony Velarde
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Sunbirds fired the opening salvo on Thursday night, getting on the scoreboard first in the game's 21st minute.
• Dominican pulled even nine minutes into the second half, but Fresno Pacific answered 64 seconds later to reclaim the lead.
• The Penguins were able to cut the deficit to one, but the Blue and Orange refused to sit on a lead, adding the game's final score in the 68th minute.
 
SCORING:
• (20:50) Sergio Bermudez crossed into the box, where Brian Leyva got began the scoring with a diving header for his first goal of the year.
• (54:30) Diego Vasquez took advantage of a penalty kick to give the Penguins the equalizer.
• (55:34) The Sunbirds drew contact in the box, and Anthony Velarde put the home team in front 2-1.
• (57:53) On a free kick, Fellipe Souza went right at the goal, sending a shot over the diving Dominican keeper.
• (62:23) Tanner Herrero brought the Penguins within a score with a header to the left of FPU goalie Patrick Timmer.
• (67:06) Bruno Brumati gathered a deflected shot off the foot of Sergio Bermudez and fired to the lower right of the net for the game's final score.

STATS OF THE GAME:
• FPU outshot their guests 18-12, including a 10-8 mark on frame. The Penguins took just four shots in the final 45 minutes.
• Dominican took five of the game's nine corner kicks.
• Timmer recorded six saves on Thursday, while Dominican's Christian Lathrop and Wyatt Walsh picked up three apiece.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• The Sunbirds have lost to Dominican only once in program history, a 1-0 defeat in Fresno in 1998.
• Since FPU joined the PacWest prior to the 2012 season, the Sunbirds have outscored the Penguins 27-6.
• The Blue and Orange had totaled just three goals in their last four games before Thursday's victory.
• The Sunbirds have won five straight conference openers.
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds continue PacWest play on Saturday night, when they play host to longtime rival Point Loma. Opening whistle from Ramirez Field is slated for 7:30 p.m.