Skip To Main Content

The Official Athletics Site of the Fresno Pacific University Sunbirds

Connect with Us:
Biola Athletics
7
Fresno Pacific FPU (10-12)
8
Winner Mercyhurst HURST (6-23)
Fresno Pacific FPU
(10-12)
7
Final
8
Mercyhurst HURST
(6-23)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Fresno Pacific FPU 3 0 1 3 7
Mercyhurst HURST 2 1 2 3 8

Game Recap: Women's Water Polo |

'Birds Suffer Heartbreak in First Round of WWPA Tournament

LA MIRADA, Calif.- In a game that featured five ties and a pair of lead changes, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds were unable to complete the comeback in the final seconds against the Mercyhurst Lakers in the first round of the WWPA Tournament Friday afternoon as they fell 8-7. 

The Lakers and Sunbirds both opened the game scoring on their first possessions with Natalie Kisling converting for the 'Birds. 

With less than a minute left in the first, the Sunbirds converted back-to-back goals from Tatum Benson and another from Kisling to take a 3-2 lead into the second. 

The second was marked by a lone goal for the Lakers early in the period as both teams stepped up defensively creating turnovers and making saves.

All tied at 3-3 heading into the third, the Sunbirds opened the period retaking the lead with a goal from Emily Lopez-Ibarra off a penalty shot.

Mercyhurst would tie and then retake the lead with less than ten seconds left in the third off a powerplay to capture their first lead of the game thus far at 5-4. 

To open the fourth, both teams would find the back of the net with Kisling converting for the 'Birds, giving her a hat trick on the day. 

With less than four minutes to go, Lopez-Ibarra found the back of the net for the second time tying the score 6-6, but the Lakers would jump back ahead less than twenty seconds later with a goal of their own. 

On their next possession, the Sunbirds were awarded a penalty shot which Maggie Cook converted to tie the game back up for a fourth time at 7-7 with less than three minutes left to play. 

Both team turned over the ball, before Mercyhurst was able to convert after coming up with a big steal. 

Out of a timeout, Fresno Pacific drew up the play but was unable to convert as the Lakers goalie made the save as time expired to give Mercyhurst the 8-7 win. 

With the loss, Fresno Pacific will advance to the consolation bracket where they will play the loser of this afternoons game between Biola and Gannon at 1pm tomorrow at the SPLASH! Aquatics Center. 
 

SUNBIRD SOCIAL

  • Twitter - @fpusunbirds
  • Instagram - @fpusunbirds
  • Facebook - /FPUsunbirds

#TeamFPU

Print Friendly Version