MERCED, Calif. - A strong offensive performance ended in a 14-12 win for the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds over the UC Merced Bobcats Saturday morning in Merced.
 
The first quarter opened with both teams converting their possessions into goals. 
 
Goals for the Sunbirds came from Forrest Gray, William Green, and Eugenio Maldonando to create the 3-3 tie with less than a minute in the first quarter. 
 
With less than 10 seconds left, Green found the back of the net to give the Sunbirds the 4-3 lead heading into the second. 
 
The Sunbirds opened the second half with two straight goals on back-back possessions.
 
 A second from Gray and another from Nikita Kravstov off the assist from Maldonado helped the 'Birds to maintain their one-point lead after two more goals from the Bobcats 6-5. 
 
 Two more goals by the Sunbirds by Gray and Green expanded their lead to three heading into halftime. 
 
Fresno Pacific opened the third with two goals from Blake Johnson off the assist from Piettro Cattano and another goal from Gray, his third of the day to take their largest lead of the match 10-5. 
 
The Bobcats scored two goals to bring them back within three, but the Sunbirds maintain their lead with three more goals of their own from Cattano, Cole Sjoblom, and Gray to end the third up 13-8.
 
The Sunbirds and Bobcats traded goals to open the fourth.
 
At 14-9, the Bobcats went on a three goal unanswered run to bring themselves back within two. 
 
Fresno Pacific struggled to convert giving up possession on multiple turnovers. 
 
With less than a minute left, goalie Ethan McLaughlin made the save securing the Sunbird win as time expired. 
 
Seven different Sunbirds scored one or more goal with Gray leading the way with six, a season high. 
 
Fresno Pacific will travel to Irvine next Saturday for their last WWPA matchup of the season against the Concordia University Irvine Golden Eagles. 

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