ORANGE, Calif. - The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds split a pair of games on day one of the Convergence Tournament in Southern California. 

GAME ONE 

Game one featured a matchup against a familiar WWPA rival the McKendree University Bearcats. 

Fresno Pacific came out hot, as Natalie Killing proceeded to win the sprint and score the first goal of the day for the 'Birds off the pass from Regan Azevedo to take the early lead. 

The scoring continued as Azevedo found the back of the net to give the Sunbirds an early two goal lead to end the first quarter.

A pair of goals from Emily Lopez-Ibarra and Maddie Murad to open the second would extend the Sunbirds lead to four. 

The Bearcats and Sunbirds would each score two more to end the second, with Azevedo recording her second of the day and Sierra Coyne adding her name to the growing goal list. 

The goals kept coming for the Sunbirds who opened the third with a trio of goals on back-back possessions from Natalie Killing and a pair from Tatum Benson giving the 'Birds the 9-3 lead. 

To end the third, Maggie Cook scored a pair off the power play and the penalty shot putting Fresno Pacific up 11-4.

Another goal from Benson opened the fourth as McKendree would score three straight to bring themselves back within five with four minutes left in the fourth. 

The match would end both teams scoring more goals, with Benson adding two more giving her a hat trick to end the day and secure the win for the Sunbirds 14-8. 

Seven different Sunbirds combined for all 14 goals to snap the Bearcats six game winning streak. 

GAME TWO 

The second game of the day featured a rematch with the Concordia University Irvine Golden Eagles. 

FPU and CUI struggled to covert offensively early with missed shots and shot clock turnovers for a majority of the first quarter. 

CUI was able to score first off the powerplay giving them the early 1-0 lead heading into the second quarter. 

To open the second quarter, the Sunbirds were finally able to break through on their first possession with a goal from Benson to even the game. 

For the remainder of the quarter, the Golden Eagles converted two to the Sunbirds one from Lopez-Ibarra to end the quarter with CUI up 3-2. 

The Sunbirds evened the game 3-3 with five minutes left in the third with a goal from Alli Hepner off the powerplay. 

CUI would score two unanswered to end the third retaking the lead 5-3. 

The fourth was a defensive shut out, until the fourth minute when the Golden Eagles scored extending their lead. 

Fresno Pacific would attempt the comeback but would come up a pair of goals short after converting one from Emma Cook falling to the Golden Eagles a second time 6-4. 

The matchup marked the second lowest goal total of the season so far for the Sunbirds at four. 

Katie Whittingham finished the game strong in goal recording 13 saves for a .684 save percentage. 

Benson would end the day as top scorer with five goals. 

Fresno Pacific will be back in action for day two of the Convergence Tournament with another double header starting with a game against Cal Lutheran at 12:00 p.m and Augustana College at 2:40pm. 

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