Box Score 1 RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A pair of close games were unable to fall the Sunbirds' way Saturday as they finish the Lancer Joust Tournament winless after dropping two on Friday.
GAME ONE
The first game of the morning was against tournament host, the Cal Baptist Lancers.
CBU took an early lead scoring back-to-back goals.
The 'Birds responded with a goal from Christiano Sandino, followed by two goals from Pietro Cattano, tying the game at 3.
However, the Lancers closed the first period leading 4-3.
Jake Canalas found the back of the net early in the second quarter to bring the Sunbirds within one goal, but the Lancers continued to push, scoring three more goals, leading 7-5 at halftime.
CBU dominated the third period, scoring six goals, while Fresno Pacific managed just one goal from Blake Johnson. CBU pulled away with a commanding 13-6 lead.
The Sunbirds made a late push, scoring four goals, including one from Sandino and another from Tristin Fox, but CBU held firm to secure the 16-10 win.
Despite a solid effort, the Sunbirds couldn't overcome the strong offensive output from the Lancers, who scored 16 goals on 32 shots.
Fresno Pacific had standout performances from Christiano Sandino, who scored two goals and added two assists, while Jake Canalas and Pietro Cattano also contributed with two goals each.
GAME TWO
In the afternoon game, the Sunbirds battled against the Toronto University Varsity Blues.
Fresno Pacific started strong, with Eugenio Maldonado opening the scoring early, followed by another penalty goal just minutes later.
Pietro Cattano added a third goal for FPU.
Toronto responded with a pair of goals of their own to stay close, but Fresno Pacific held a 3-2 lead after the first period.
Jordan Lambert scored the only goal for FPU in the second period.
Toronto, however, evened the score with a duo of goals ,making it a tightly contested 4-4 game going into the third.
Christian Clark and Forrest Gray each scored in the third period, but Toronto had a slight edge with a trio of goals.
This gave Toronto a narrow 7-6 lead as the match intensified.
FPU bounced back in the fourth with goals from Cattano, Sandino, and Renevier. Despite two goals for the Varsity Blues, the 'Birds tied the match at 9-9 heading into extra time.
Both teams played locked down defense in the first extra period, with no goals scored.
In the final period, Forrest Gray scored for Fresno Pacific, but Toronto secured the win with goals a pair of goals in the final minutes resulting in an 11-10 victory for Toronto.
Fresno Pacific will head home for a matchup against Merced College Tuesday afternoon at 1pm at the Sunnyside Aquatics Center.
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