FRESNO, Calif. - It's incredible what a week can do.  Before Saturday, the FPU women's soccer team were coming off a challenging three-game losing streak against some of the PacWest's best.  But in two games since, they've flipped the script on what we thought to expect from the Lady 'Birds in 2024.  A 3-0 win over Academy of Art over the weekend was followed up with a strong 2-0 win over Jessup Wednesday night at Ramirez Field.  

It's another mighty sign of progress for Roberto Hernandez's side in year one.  Over the first nine games of 2024, FPU managed five goals.  But in the two games since, they've matched that number to double their season total.  And with the goals coming from a complete revolving door of contributors too - tonight it was goals from Gizelle Aguirre and Mariah Contreras that ensured the victory to FPU.  Eight different Lady 'Birds have netted for the side this year, with Aguirre's three leading the team.  

Defensively, it was just another day at the office for the back five of FPU.  The rotating corp did their job very well again on Wednesday, as they held the visiting Warriors scoreless in what is now the Sunbirds' sixth clean sheet of the 2024 campaign.  

"At halftime we as a staff challenged the team to up the intensity of the match and they responded," Hernandez said.  "Great defensive pressure and great movement of the ball."

The scoring opened in the 56th minute on an end-to-end play that began at the feet of goalkeeper Monique Nevarez.  She played a long pass to Contreras, who ran a third of the field untouched before threading a perfectly-weighted ball to Cadence Cunha.  The sophomore then easily centered the ball to a streaking Aguirre who calmly slotted it into the low corner.  Contreras bossed the midfield all night long, and was rewarded with a sublime goal in the 73rd minute.  Near the halfway line Brooke Uceda hit Contreras in space from about 40 yards out.  Contreras carried the ball toward the box and eluded a defender before teeing one up from just outside the D.  Her quasi-chip shot surprised Jessup's 'keeper Celeste Fernandez, who was able to get a hand to the ball.  But she could only push the ball up and into the inner crossbar and fully over the goal line.  The score was Contreras' first as a Sunbird.

"Proud of the resilience of this group," added Hernandez. "Today is a great TEAM win!"

The Lady 'Birds will jet off to Hawaii to face Hawaii Pacific, Chaminade, and Hawaii Hilo next week before returning home to close out the campaign again against Point Loma and Biola.  The first will be Monday against Hawaii Pacific at 10pm PT, and will be streaming on the PacWest Network.


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