SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — At the PacWest Soccer Championships, Fresno Pacific men's soccer (No. 4 seed) fell to Point Loma (No. 1 seed), 4-1, in a neutral-site contest at Westmont College despite a first-half goal that briefly tied the match. Although the outcome was the reverse of last year's 1-0 victory over PLNU, the Sunbirds closed out the season with a 7-9-2 overall record and placed fourth in the PacWest, finishing higher than their preseason ranking.

"I couldn't be prouder of this team and the staff who support them every day. The growth we've seen, individually and collectively, has been remarkable," said second-year head coach Cameron Shahrokhi. "These young men have pushed themselves to improve in their sport, deepened their faith, and matured in the way they carry themselves on and off the field."

The first half began with a quick momentum swing as Point Loma scored a penalty kick just 26 seconds into the game, putting the Sunbirds in an early deficit. Fresno Pacific didn't hesitate to get on the board and quickly responded in the 15th minute. Utilizing a corner kick from Chris Macias, Sean Williamson jumped over the Sea Lion defenders and used the side of his head to bounce it past the keeper, successfully tying the score 1-1. Both teams continued to exchange attacks, with goalkeeper Elmer Carballo making key saves for the Sunbirds. Carballo had a clutch save with six minutes left on the clock, creeping up far enough to block the Sea Lions shot at the bottom of the box. The senior goalkeeper also had an early save, where he pressed against the post to stop a low shot from the left. The first half ended with both teams tied 1-1.

Despite persistent offensive efforts, including multiple shots by Macias, Aran Martin and Chris Meza, each attempt was thwarted by Point Loma's goalkeeper in the second half. Macias registered five shots, four of which were on goal. An energy shift occurred at 79:02 when Point Loma was given another penalty kick opportunity that bumped them to a 2-1 lead. Moving forward, Elmer and Williamson were crucial to the defensive line, both blocking Point Loma's constant attempts in the box. However, further complications arose for the Sunbirds when a red card was given at 85:58, making it even harder for the 'Birds to defend the Sea Lions' attempts. Ultimately, Point Loma scored another goal in the final minutes of the match, concluding the semifinal game 4-1.

The Sunbirds hold a 7-9-2 overall record with a 6-3-1 conference record. The men's soccer team finished the season with a three game-winning streak at home, two shutouts against Chaminade and Hawaii Hilo, and the highest scoring match of the season in the 5-2 conference win over CUI, who was ranked 2nd in the PacWest standings at the time.

On top of that, five Sunbird men were recently named All-PacWest selections after their brilliant performances this season. These remarkable players included Zion Vaughn (First Team), Macias and Aran Martin (Second Team), as well as Lucas Ribeiro and Bryan Lopez (Third Team). Head coach Cameron Shahrokhi has led the team to the PacWest Championships two years in a row and will continue to build the program as Fresno Pacific joins the CCAA.

"Watching them develop not just as athletes, but as men of character, has been one of the greatest privileges of my coaching career. We have a lot to reflect on and be proud of. Back to back tournament appearances with a group the rest of the league picked to finish 11th and 6th. I am going to miss being on the pitch everyday with this group. I love these guys."

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