RIVERSIDE, CA. – The FPU women’s soccer team just could not withstand the pressure #7 ranked California Baptist applied in a first-round GSAC playoff game, losing to the Lancers 5-0 Tuesday afternoon in Riverside, CA. CBU notched two goals in the first half, three in the second, and completed a solid performance by shutting out the Sunbirds for the victory.
Fresno Pacific started the game well and managed to keep the Lancers off the score-sheet for the opening 37 minutes of play until CBU’s Jacquelyn Witz netted to give the Cal Baptist the 1-0 lead. Witz converted after being first to a rebound following a well taken shot by teammate Britney Quiroz that FPU goalkeeper Catherine Michaelis had initially saved, but was unable to hold onto.
The Lancers doubled their lead just four minutes later when Fabiola DaSilva made a strong run through the midfield and blasted a 25 yard shot past Michaelis into the lower left corner of the Sunbird net.
Cal Baptist continued where they had left off to open the second half of play when DaSilva scored her second goal of the match in the 51st minute on a 1v1 to give CBU the comfortable 3-0 advantage.
With FPU pushing numbers forward in attempt to find a way back into the game, CBU scored two more times before the final whistle. Amanda Lammers' goal in the 69th minute, and a Loza Giannina strike in the 78th gave the Lancers a commanding 5-0 final score.
Statistically, the Sunbirds managed to fire off 10 shots to the Lancer’s 25 and had the edge in corners 6 to 3 over CBU.
“Credit to Cal Baptist,” acknowledged FPU head coach Erik Farfan. “They played very well today.”
“Despite this tough loss, we are very proud of our team for a great season. We feel that we made substantial progress this year and are moving in the right direction with our Program.” Farfan added.
With the loss, FPU ends a solid 2009 campaign with a respectable 9-7-1 overall record, having qualified for the GSAC playoffs for the second consecutive season.