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FPU Women celebrate Giselle Aguirre's late goal against Vanguard
0
Vanguard VAN (1-4-0, 0-1-0)
2
Winner Fresno Pacific FPU (2-2-2, 1-0-0)
Vanguard VAN
(1-4-0, 0-1-0)
0
Final
2
Fresno Pacific FPU
(2-2-2, 1-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Vanguard VAN 0 0 0
Fresno Pacific FPU 1 1 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Streaking Sunbirds Score Second Straight Success in PacWest Opener

FRESNO, Calif. - It was a rough preseason and start to the regular season for the FPU women's soccer team, with victories seemingly very difficult to come by.  But as summer turns into fall, so have the fortunes of Roberto Hernandez's side which has now won back to back games and taken points from four in a row.  

Goals from Nadia Flores and Gizelle Aguirre combined with another backline masterclass saw FPU notch a 2-0 victory over Vanguard University Thursday night at Ramirez Field.  It has now been over 360 minutes since the Sunbird women last conceded a goal.  

Flores opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a beauty from outside the 18 yard box. The Lions' intercepted a FPU long throw in, but the header landed right at the feet of Flores who took one touch before sending a gorgeous arching ball into the top corner of the far post.  Vanguard's keeper was playing dangerously out of position at her near post to defend the throw and was not expecting the sensational Flores strike.  

The second half saw Vanguard ramp up the frequency of their attack, but with little to no bite to show for it.  Despite 8 of their 10 shot attempts coming in the final frame, none could hit the net for the Lions.  With the game winding down, center back Jesslyn McCave booted the ball down field and, like on the Flores goal, took a fortuitous bounce off a Vanguard header that landed in the path of a streaking Mackenzie Madron.  The forward played one touch off her body and hit a firm shot directly on goal.  Vanguard keeper Jordin Holmquist-Wilder made a great save from close range, but the ball deflected off her hands and right into the center of the box where Giselle Aguirre was waiting to blast it home.  The home crowd erupted as they realized the victory was secured.  

Monique Nevarez dazzled in goal once again, making five saves to keep the Lions scoreless.  Center back Karyssa Lopez put in another full 90 for the Sunbirds, and has played every minute of the 2024 season.  In less than 48 hours though, the FPU women will face their toughest test yet - the unbeaten 4-0-1 Azusa Pacific Cougars.  Lopez, Nevarez, and the rest of the defense will be tested by the SoCal side, who have scored 12 goals already in 5 games.  Kickoff is set for Saturday 6:30pm PT at Ramirez Field.  The game will also be streaming live on the PacWest Network.


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