THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.- The fast-starting offense and tenacious defense that the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (6-9 overall) have combined paid dividends as they split a pair of games on the final day of the Tina Finali Invitational Saturday.
 
The 'Birds raced out in front before cruising to a 16-4 win over Occidental in the morning before running out of steam in a 9-6 loss to the University of Toronto.
 
The Sunbirds started the weekend by improving to 3-0 in Thousand Oaks with hats tricks from Emily Lopez-Ibarra and Alli Hepner propelling the offense.

Lopez-Ibarra scored two of her goals before halftime, including the first goal of the game, and continued to key FPU's stifling defense as it built a 10-3 lead at the break.

Natalie Kisling also delivered an efficient game by scoring on both of the shots she took to extend the lead.
 
Tatum Benson added two more goals to her impressive weekend as the 'Birds received goals from 10 different players in all.
 
Goalie Katie Whittingham posted her highest save percentage of the season while collecting 8 saves to help FPU secure the season sweep of Occidental.
 
The winning streak came to an end in their fourth and final game of the invite against the University of Toronto.
 
Benson tacked on another hat-trick to complete her 12 goal weekend.
 
Rosemary Chapman, Alexandria Jasso, and Regan Azevedo also dented the twine with a goal each.
 
After leading for most of the weekend, FPU dealt with an opponent that answered nearly every goal to derail any momentum the 'Birds would build.
 
The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds will return to action in Southern California next weekend at the Convergence Tournament at LaVerne.
 
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