CLAREMONT, Calif.- The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (2-8 overall) dropped a pair of games to the La Verne Leopards (1-10 overall) and the Air Force Falcons (11-8 overall) to open the Gary Troyer Tournament on Friday.
 
The first goal of the game for the Sunbirds came off the arm of Forrest Gray to tie the score 1-1 after the Leopards converted their first offensive series of the game. 
 
Less than a minute later, the Leopards pulled back ahead with two goals off multiple turnovers by the 'Birds.
 
Both teams continued to trade shots and turnovers until Gray was able to break through again in the final seconds of the 1st after an exclusion was called on La Verne.
 
The Leopards answered quickly with a goal of their own to end the first up 4-2.
 
For the first several minutes of the second it became a defensive battle as both goalies recorded multiple saves.
 
La Verne extended their lead to four with a goal in 5^th minute and the 2^nd to bring the score to 6-2. 
 
The Sunbirds countered with a goal from Will Hoyle, but the Leopards answered again less than ten seconds later. 
 
Another goal by Gray at the end of the 2nd brought the Sunbirds back within three heading into the half. 
 
The 3^rd period opened with a steal by the Sunbirds which they converted into another goal from Gray. 
 
La Verne converted back-to-back possessions extending their lead to four. 
 
Three goals from William Green and another goal by Gray helped the 'Birds storm back to tie the game 9-9. 
 
Fresno Pacific continued their scoring frenzy with goals from Scott Tashima and Andrew Duncan to take their largest lead of the game to end the 3rd period. 
 
A series of traded goals to start the fourth kept the Fresno Pacific lead at two 12-10. 
 
Two straight Leopard goals helped tie the game heading into the final three minutes of play. 
 
Off a power play in the last minute of the game, La Verne converted giving them the lead 13-12. 
 
With one possession left, the Sunbirds attempted one final shot as time expired, but it was knocked down by Eric Bates giving the Leopard their first win of the season. 
 
Gray ended the game with a team leading 5 goals. 
 
Chase Hammes, in his first collegiate start, finished the game in goal with 10 saves. 
 
In the second game against Air Force, the Sunbirds found themselves down early as the Falcons scored two early goals. 
 
Green continued his momentum from the first game finding the back of the net for the Sunbirds first goal of the game. 
 
The first and second period was all Falcons as they scored four unanswered to take their largest lead of the game at five. 
 
Back-to-back goals from Eugenio Maldonado and Green in the middle of the 2^nd helped the Sunbirds bring the game back within 3. 
 
The Falcons answered quickly with three goals of their own to put their lead back at six. 
 
In the final minute of the 2^nd, the Sunbirds were awarded a penalty shot which Green converted for the last score by either team of the period. 
 
To open the 3rd, Maldonado scored for his second goal of the game to bring the 'Birds back within five.
 
Air Force countered with five unanswered giving them their largest lead of the game 14-5.
 
In the final minute of the 3^rd, Tashima was finally able to break the drought sending one to the back of the net closing the 3^rd 15-6. 
 
Two straight goals by Christian Clark narrowed the lead bringing the Sunbirds back within 9. 
 
The Falcons and Sunbirds continued to trade goals for the remainder of the fourth, but the 'Birds never came closer to closing the gap, losing 20-10. 
 
Green would lead all Sunbird scoring with 4 goals on 5 shots. 
 
The Sunbirds will begin day two of the tournament against the McKendree University Wildcats at 9am at the De Mandel Aquatic Center on the Occidental College campus.  
 

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