Skip To Main Content

The Official Athletics Site of the Fresno Pacific University Sunbirds

Connect with Us:
15
Winner Fresno Pacific FPU (12-11 1-3)
11
UC Merced UCM (5-22 0-0)
Winner
Fresno Pacific FPU
(12-11 1-3)
15
Final
11
UC Merced UCM
(5-22 0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Fresno Pacific FPU 5 4 3 3 15
UC Merced UCM 2 3 3 3 11

Game Recap: Women's Water Polo |

'Birds Win Final Regular Season Game Against Bobcats

MERCED, Calif.- In their final regular season game, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds secured an 15-11 win over the UC Merced Bobcats Friday evening. 

The Sunbirds jumped out with energy, quickly setting the tone with a goal from Tatum Benson just over a minute in. Emma Cook followed up less than a minute later to double the lead. UC Merced answered, but the 'Birds responded immediately as Benson notched her second. Dakota Lambert added another for the Sunbirds, showing great positioning in front of the cage. After a goal from the Bobcats, Maggie Cook beat the buzzer with just one second left to give the Sunbirds a 5-2 lead.

The Bobcats came out aggressive in the second, striking early with back-to-back goals, cutting the deficit to one. However, the 'Birds answered strongly: M. Cook buried a penalty shot, Regan Azevedo added a goal, and Sierra Coyne converted another penalty. The momentum continued with a fourth Sunbird goal from T. Benson, her third of the game, assisted by Azevedo. UC Merced managed another goal late, but the Sunbirds closed the half up by four.

The third was a more balanced frame. T. Benson kicked it off with her fourth goal, this one another penalty shot. UC Merced surged back with three straight, however just when the momentum shifted, Lambert responded with back-to-back goals within 40 seconds, restoring the 'Birds' cushion going into the fourth.

The Bobcats tried to mount a comeback, but T. Benson continued her dominant night with two more goals, bringing her total to six. Coyne delivered her second penalty shot of the night with just under three minutes remaining. UC Merced fought to the final whistle, but the Sunbirds' early cushion and consistent scoring in every period secured the 15-11 win.

UP NEXT

Fresno Pacific will then head to Morgantown, West Virginia for the WWPA Championships. The 'Birds have been awarded the #2 seed in the west region and will take on #3 seed in the east, Gannon, in the quarterfinals on Friday, April 25th at 1pm EST. 

SUNBIRD SOCIAL 

X - @fpusunbirds 
Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
Facebook - /FPUsunbirds 
 

#TeamFPU

Print Friendly Version