SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific men's soccer team picked up another key PacWest Conference victory on Saturday afternoon, as the Sunbirds were able to knock off Dominican 3-1 on the road. The win pushes the current win streak to three games for the Blue and Orange, who improve to 12-2-1 on the season. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: FPU 3, Dominican 1 
Records: FPU (12-2-1, 7-2-0 PacWest), Dominican (5-8-2, 2-5-1 PacWest)
All-Time Series: FPU leads 16-1-1
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The two teams went back and forth for the bulk of the first half, but a miscommunication on the Dominican back line allowed the Sunbirds to get on the board in the 45th minute.  
• The Penguins fought their way back, earning the equalizer on a penalty kick early in the second half.  
• A free kick late gave FPU some breathing room, and an insurance goal two minutes later put the game on ice for the Sunbirds.
 
SCORING: 
• (44:06) After a shot deflected off the Dominican keeper, Isaiah Asencio gathered and connected, giving the 'Birds the first lead of the day.
• (52:07) Contact in the box gave the Penguins an opportunity, and Wilson Briggs' penalty kick was successful.
• (86:08) Anthony Velarde took a free kick from just outside the top of the box, hitting to the lower right to put the Blue and Orange on top for good.
• (88:55) Velarde teamed up with Brian Leyva in the box, paving the way for Leyva's volley to give the Sunbirds the final score of the afternoon.
 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
• FPU outshot their hosts 16-9, including a mark of 6-3 in shots on frame. 
• William Finnie tallied three saves between the pipes for the Penguins, while FPU's Patrick Timmer needed just two to pick up his 12th win of the season.
• The 'Swords took nine of the game's 13 corner kicks. 
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Velarde has tallied an assist or a goal in all but two Sunbird games this season, and he remains atop the PacWest leaderboard with 38 total points.  
• Fresno Pacific continues to keep themselves in the playoff hunt and rank sixth in the West Regional standings heading into the final week of the regular season.
 
SOCIAL:
• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
• Facebook - /FPUathletics
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds return to action on Tuesday, when they host Hawai'i Pacific at Ramirez Field at 5:00 p.m. FPU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will have its' annual Trunk or Treat event the same night, beginning at 6:30 p.m.