FRESNO, Calif. – Fighting through the rain, the PacWest Team of the Week blazed ahead with a 2-0 triumph over Hawaii-Hilo, securing their third conference win and second shutout of the season. Fresno Pacific goalkeeper Elmer Carballo recorded a shutout with six saves, while Zion Vaughn scored once in each half to maintain the Sunbirds' unbeaten conference record.

"I'm really proud of our team for showing toughness and grit tonight," said head coach Cameron Shahrokhi. "Hilo is a very experienced, quality side, and they made it difficult for us from start to finish. Great teams find ways to win matches in different ways, and tonight we did it in a way we hadn't yet this year — with defensive commitment, organization, and by capitalizing on our chances. We will enjoy it tonight, but it is back to work tomorrow."

As the period progressed, Fresno Pacific gained momentum in their attacks culminating in Vaughn's header at the 26:31 mark, assisted by Julian Aran Martin, to give the 'Birds a 1-0 lead. The Vulcans applied pressure with multiple attempts, but Carballo remained steadfast in goal. Fresno Pacific maintained their one-goal advantage through the end of the period, heading into the break with high energy.

In the second half, Chris Meza's shot hit the crossbar deflecting back into play, and an awaiting Vaughn pounced on the rebound and headed it into the left corner, capturing the second goal for FPU at the 62nd minute. This critical play solidified the 'Birds advantage, putting them up 2-0. The Division I transfer from University of the Pacific captured his first brace and third overall goal of the season.

"I am really happy for Zion. He has been working so hard in training and earned those two goals."

Despite numerous attempts by Hawaii-Hilo to close the gap, Fresno Pacific maintained their defensive composure by turning away multiple shots, including key saves in the 55th and 57th minutes. The Vulcans struggled to find the back of the net in the final minutes concluding the match with another FPU conference triumph.

Fresno Pacific improved to 4-3 overall and 3-0 in conference play. The Sunbirds currently sit atop the conference table with Carballo leading the PacWest in saves (31) and Lucas Ribeiro fourth in shots (22) and shots on goal (11).

NEXT UP: The PacWest Team of the Week heads to Cougar Field on Oct. 4^th for a non-conference match versus Azusa Pacific at 7:30 pm.

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