FRESNO, Calif.-In one of the first rematches of the season, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (2-7 overall) showed growth and fight but ultimately fell 12-6 to the Azusa Pacific Cougars (4-5 overall) Friday night at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.

The Sunbirds got their first crack at a pair of rematches this weekend as they locked up with APU for the second time this year and displayed plenty of grit and tough defense late before falling in the first game of three this weekend.

After Azusa Pacific scored four early goals, Fresno Pacific tightened up defensively and delivered a response at the other end of the pool.

Alli Hepner found the back of the cage halfway through the period, beating the goalie to the near post to get Fresno Pacific on the board.

Hepner tapped in a deflected shot just a bit later to cut the difference down to two before the end of the 1^st quarter but APU answered with a goal to hold a 5-2 lead at the end of one period.

The 2^nd quarter saw APU score another quick goal before Fresno Pacific responded with consecutive goals from Tatum Benson to pull back within two at 6-4.

But APU scored another pair of goals before the half to hold an 8-4 lead at halftime.

Rosemary Chapman sparked the Sunbirds by winning the spring and Benson scored the first on an assist from Natalie Kissling before Azusa answered with two goals.

Sam Dieterle drew an exclusion in response, and Kristina DuPont found Regan Azevedo, who scored to end the third quarter.

After the offenses had raced out to quick starts, both defenses were practically impenetrable in the fourth quarter as Azusa Pacific tacked the only goal of the period to its lead at 12-6.

Fresno Pacific will conclude the tournament on Saturday with a pair of games at the Fresno State Aquatics Center. FPU will play Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 11 a.m. and then take on the host Fresno State Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m.

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