SEASIDE, Calif.- After leading for all but a minute on both ends of the game, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (8-11 overall) fell 8-7 to the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters (5-15 overall) Saturday afternoon at the Otter Tank.

Four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter turned the tide on FPU.

"We did everything right until the last five minutes," Fresno Pacific head coach Bryan Suhovy said. "We allowed four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter. We need to be able to put together a solid game for all four quarters."

After conceding the opening goal, Fresno Pacific responded immediately with Rosemary Chapman leveling the game at 1-1.

Midway through the first quarter, Tatum Benson wiggled inside the defense and found the back of the cage to give FPU a 2-1 lead.

FPU goalie Katie Whittingham made four saves in the first period to preserve a 2-1 lead after the first eight minutes.

Cal State Monterey Bay tied the game at two after a minute and a half in the second quarter.

Benson regained the lead for FPU on the next shot for the Sunbirds, scoring from point blank range to make it 3-2.

The 'Birds added to the lead when Alexandria Jasso found Sam Dieterle for a goal, stretching the difference to 4-2 with just 3 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Otters cut into that lead just before half, finding the corner of the cage to pull within one.

Both defenses kept the score the same for a majority of the third quarter before Emma Cook was able to tally a score and double FPU's lead back to two.

The Otters answered just before the end of the period to pull back within one at 5-4.

But the 'Birds got that goal back on the next possession on Regan Azevedo's goal, pushing the lead to 6-4 at the end of three.

Powerplays started to become an important category in the second half as FPU drew 9 exclusions in the first ten minutes of the half, scoring on just two.

One came when Emily Lopez-Ibarra extended the lead to start the fourth, capitalizing on a powerplay, but CSUMB scored on the next possession to bring it back within two goals at 7-5.

The Otters regained possession quickly and drew the exclusion, capitalizing on a powerplay of their own to pull within one.

Monterey Bay pulled even on another powerplay, tying the game at 7 all.

Things remained tied until the final 30 seconds when Cal State Monterey Bay took the lead for the first time since the opening minute.

That would prove to be enough as FPU's final shot attempt was blocked to seal the score.

"The girls executed the gameplan we intended," Suhovy added. "I was proud of our effort and hard work. We just need to be better at the end of the game. We will be better for the next one against them. Now we need to recharge and get ready for Monday."

Fresno Pacific will return home for the first time in a month on Monday night when it hosts Virginia Military Institute at 6:30 p.m.

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