FRESNO, Calif.- The goals came early and often in the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (10-13 overall) delivered their most dominant win of the season in a 28-3 win over the UC Merced Bobcats Thursday evening at the Sunnyside Aquatics Center.
 
The 28 goals were the most of the season for FPU with Kristina DuPont contributing on ten of them, scoring 5 goals and dishing out 5 assists, cementing the separation early.
 
Rosemary Chapman set the team up for success within the first thirty seconds of the game, winning the sprint and putting the first goal in the net, effectively setting the tone.
 
The first quarter saw nine points on the board for the Sunbirds, with goals by Tatum Benson, Emily Lopez-Ibarra, Natalie Kisling, Hannah Walker, Alli Hepner, Sam Dieterle, and Maddie Murad.
 
Lauren McGowan sparked the 'Birds in the second quarter, claiming multiple steals and putting a goal in the net.
 
Another Hepner goal followed shortly after, putting the 'Birds up by eleven.
 
Randi Johnson later nabbed a goal of her own, assisted by Dupont. Dupont claimed her first goal shortly after.
 
More goals by Benson and Dieterle followed, as well as Natalie Noble first goal.
 
UC Merced scored their first point of the game in the second minute of the third quarter but FPU had already scored twice more behind Courtney Belliotti and Dupont.
 
McGowan added another tally to her sheet followed closely by goals from Johnson and Benson.
 
Summer Fulton also scored her first point of the game, in addition to another Dupont goal.
 
The Sunbirds went into the last quarter with a 24-2 lead.
 
Johnson set up a Belliotti goal quickly to start off the final stretch of the game. More goals by Dupont and Noble allowed for the Sunbirds to clinch a 25 point victory, with the final tally resting at 28-3.
 
The game acted as an opportunity for every 'Bird to get some valuable playing time ahead of the big senior game on Saturday.
 
The Sunbirds will return to face off against Monterey Bay this Saturday at home for an Orange-Out senior game event. The Senior Day ceremony will being at 12:45 p.m. with gametime at 1:00 pm.
 
 
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