FRESNO, Calif. – The FPU women's soccer team (4-2-2, 1-0 PacWest) started PacWest Conference play in the best possible way on Saturday, taking down Holy Names (5-3, 0-1 PacWest) 5-1. The offense is on a hot streak, scoring 13 goals during the current three-game win streak.

"Starting 1-0 in the PacWest is huge, and I think scoring five goals in the first game is great," head coach Joel Robinson said. "You can't assume anything in the PacWest. In the first 10 or so minutes in the second half, they were putting a lot of pressure on us, and then we figured out a way to slow that down."

The Sunbirds took complete control in the first half, maintaining possesion and taking 10 shots to just one by Holy Names in the first 26 minutes before Maluhia Kekuawela, a converted defensive player to forward, scored her first career collegiate goal to put FPU on top in the 29th minute.

The Sunbirds kept the pressure up following the goal with two shots from Tori De Leon and a shot from Maria Eir Magnusdottir that hit the crossbar in the 32nd minute. They were able to double their lead in the 41st minute when Madilyn Hernandez scored her second goal of the season with a rocket from the right side of the box into the upper left corner of the goal.

After the break, the Hawks turned up their intensity, finding ways to hold possession in FPU territory. They were able to cut the Sunbird lead in half after a questionable foul call in the 51st led to a free kick that they were able to punch in.

HNU didn't slow down after the goal, taking four unanswered shots, three of which were saved by Monique Nevarez.

The Sunbirds were able to add an all-important insurance goal thanks to Kekuwela's second goal of the evening on the assist from Bryana Yoshida in the 82nd minute.

"We've been working with (Maluhia), trying to teach her how to play up front," Robinson said. "She's starting to learn and find her spot, and tonight, she found her space. We've been working on corner kicks a lot, and she found a good opportunity to finish on the corner kick, and we're just really proud of her."

They didn't stop there, scoring two more goals in less than six minutes to go up 5-1. De Leon added her league-leading fifth goal of the season followed by Mackenzie Madron's second goal of the season in the 88th minute.

The Sunbirds will continue PacWest play on Thursday when they travel to Biola. Kick-off is set for 4:30 p.m.

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