FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's soccer team is set to begin PacWest Conference action this week, hosting Academy of Art on Monday evening before facing Concordia and Point Loma on the road. 
 
Quotable
"We begin conference play against three very challenging opponents. Academy of Art is off to the best start in program history, so they will come in prepared and accustomed to winning. Concordia and Point Loma likely are going to finish as two of the top five teams in the league," head coach Rob Podeyn said. "We set up our non-conference schedule to prepare us for a tough PacWest stretch, and I believe those games did just that. We've dominated almost every game, and I like the way we are playing. With the week of training we just completed, our team is ready to start putting the ball in the back of the net on a consistent basis. Our girls have worked hard all week, and they are focused and serious about making a run in this league." 

Schedule
Game 6
vs. Academy of Art
Monday, Sept. 17 • 7:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. • Ramirez Field
Live Stats
 
Game 7
at Concordia
Thursday, Sept. 20 • 3:30 p.m.
Irvine, Calif. • Eagles Field
Live Stats• Video
 
Game 8
vs. Point Loma
Saturday, Sept. 22 • 2 p.m.
San Diego • PLNU Soccer Field
Live Stats • Video
 
Fresno Pacific  
About the Sunbirds (0-4-1)
The Blue and Orange have taken a league-best 88 shots through their first five games but have found the net just three times in that span. FPU's last game came on Sept. 8, when they fell to Cal State LA by a final of 2-0 at Ramirez Field. After an 0-4-1 start for the second consecutive season, the Sunbirds are hoping to replicate their league success from last season, when they ended the year with a 9-2-2 stretch and the highest finish in program history.
 
Leaderboard
• Shots: two players tied, 14 
• Goals: three players tied, 1  
• Points: three players tied, 2
• Assists: three players tied, 1  
• Saves: Hannah Hathaway, 5 
 
Academy of Art
About the Urban Knights (5-1-0)
After a season-opening loss to Cal State East Bay, ARTU has won its' last five games, outscoring opponents 20-2 in that stretch. In Saturday night's 9-0 blowout win over Cal Maritime, eight different Urban Knights found the back of the net, while keeper Morgan Wirz needed just one save for her second clean sheet. Academy of Art looks to continue the momentum into league action, as the Urban Knights are now just two wins shy of matching their program record for season wins.
 
Leaderboard
• Shots: Anissa Wilson, 16 
• Goals: two players tied, 3 
• Points: Anissa Wilson, 8 
• Assists: two players tied, 3 
• Saves: Morgan Wirz, 14 
 
All-Time Series
The Sunbirds and Urban Knights played to a 2-2 tie in the first ever meeting (2008), but the Blue and Orange have gone for six straight wins since. Five of those have come by way of shutout, and ARTU enters this week 0-4 all-time in Fresno.   
 
Concordia
About the Eagles (1-3-0)
Concordia has opened the season with four opponents from the California Collegiate Athletic Association (UCSD, CSUSB, Sonoma State, Cal Poly Pomona), but the Eagles have been outscored 7-6 in that stretch. The Eagles have spread the ball around offensively, as 10 players have taken shots on frame and five players have found the back of the net.  
 
Leaderboard
• Shots: Carmany Jones, 10 
• Goals: Kryssa Johnson, 2 
• Points: two players tied, 4
• Assists: Cienah Reed, 2
• Saves: Hayley Garriott, 13
 
All-Time Series
The Eagles lead the all-time series 11-2-1, including a 3-1 victory in Irvine last fall. Both of FPU's victories have come in the last three seasons, and Concordia has not won in Fresno since 2010. 
 
Point Loma
About the Sea Lions (3-1-0)
Since falling 2-1 in the season opener against 7th-ranked Western Washington, the Sea Lions have found their rhythm, rattling off three consecutive shutouts of Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State San Bernardino, and Colorado Christian. PLNU has already matched their win total in road games from a season ago and look for their first four-game win streak since the 2016 season. 
 
Leaderboard
• Shots: Julia Glaser, 18 
• Goals: Julia Glaser, 2 
• Points: Julia Glaser, 4
• Assists: Abbi Swanson, 2
• Saves: Emma Hinson, 8 
 
All-Time Series
FPU enters this week with a 4-13-1 record all-time against Point Loma, and last year's 2-1 victory in Fresno snapped a three-game Sea Lion winning streak. Since both teams joined the PacWest, the 'Birds and Sea Lions have met just twice in San Diego, with PLNU outscoring FPU 4-1 in those games.  
 
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