FRESNO, CALIF. - Fresno Pacific Men's Soccer opened their regular season campaign with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Cal State LA.  It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Sunbirds, who held the fifth-ranked Golden Eagles to a scoreless draw for nearly 85 minutes.  It was a tense, chippy, end-to-end affair that, despite the lack of goals, was action-packed from start to finish.  The CSULA attack kept the Sunbirds on their toes, and forced FPU keeper Elmer Carballo to make numerous crucial saves.  The best chance of the game for either side came in the 66th minute, when Julian Aran Martin's shot deflected off the crossbar.  The match appeared to be heading toward a well-earned draw when the referee award CSULA a penalty in the 84th minute.  Matteo Costa buried the ensuing kick and put the nationally-ranked CCAA squad on top, where they would stay.  The Golden Eagles added another four minutes later on a quick counter, when a well-placed through ball landed at the feet of Emil Kischka who shook his defender and slotted his shot past Carballo.  Despite the result, the Sunbirds have to feel confident after holding their ground for so long against one of the best teams in the country.  FPU Men's Soccer is back in action on Sunday away to San Francisco State, before hosting UC Merced at Ramierez Field on 9/12.
 

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