FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno Pacific men's soccer closed its 2026 CCAA season against valley rival Stanislaus State on Thursday afternoon. The Sunbirds battled through a scoreless first half and kept the Warriors off the board for most of the match, but Stanislaus found the breakthrough in the 86th minute to take a 1-0 victory.
"This fall was a season filled with highs, lows, challenges, and, most importantly, lessons learned," mentioned head coach
Cameron Shahrokhi. "While our results may not have always reflected the effort and potential of this group, I am incredibly proud of the way our team continued to compete, grow, and fight throughout the season. Numerous games came down to one-goal margins, and we found ourselves on the wrong side of several results in matches that truly could have gone either way. Those moments are difficult, but they also provide valuable opportunities for growth and development."
The Sunbirds weathered an early opportunity from the Warriors, who missed a penalty kick in the ninth minute. FPU responded with a stretch of attacking chances midway through the half.
Brandon Lopez put two shots on goal, twin brother
Bryan Lopez added another attempt that was saved, and the Sunbirds earned corner kicks at 14:44 and 20:48.
Arturo Alegria made two saves during a late push from Stanislaus to keep the match scoreless heading into halftime.
FPU continued to defend with determination after the break. In the 52nd minute,
Beau Brusseau made a crucial sliding tackle to deflect a close-range attempt into the post and keep the Warriors from taking the lead.
The Sunbirds held firm through sustained pressure late in the second half, with Alegria making another important save at 81:30. Stanislaus eventually broke through in the 86th minute, when Flores found the net for the match's only goal. The Sunbirds closed out their final game of the season on Ramirez Field.
"We are a very young team, and with 30 players returning, I am excited about the foundation we are building and the experience this group has gained. This season taught us a great deal about resilience, accountability, mental toughness, and what it takes to compete consistently at a high level. We have plenty to learn from, but I believe the experiences and adversity we faced will make us stronger moving forward."
Fresno Pacific wrapped up its first CCAA season with a hard-fought defensive performance and an overall record of 6-10-1 and 3-8 in CCAA play. In conference,
Zion Vaughn finished fourth in goals (10) and goals-per-game as well as third in points and fifth in game-winning goals.
Bryan Lopez ranked seventh in assists and
Arturo Alegria came third in saves-per-game. The Sunbirds finished 10th in CCAA standings.
"I am especially proud of our seniors and everything they have contributed to this program," said Shahrokhi. "Their commitment, leadership, and dedication have helped shape this group, and I am grateful for the time we have shared. I wish each of them nothing but success and happiness in their next chapter. While we say goodbye to an important senior class, we also look forward to what lies ahead. This season was a chapter of growth, and we are excited to build on the lessons learned as we continue moving our program forward."
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