CLAREMONT, Calif. – Fresno Pacific (5-8) opened up their first day of the Claremont Convergence with a win and a lose. The Sunbirds were defeated by #21 George Washington 10-8, but returned to smash Penn State Behrend 16-3.
Kriztian Kovacs had 7 goals on the day, 4 huge goals against George Washington and 3 more on Behrend.
The first game was close all the way. After the first quarter the score was tied 2-2, but then George Washington pulled ahead by two at the half. The rest of the game was back and forth; both teams always answered their opponent’s goal with a goal of their own. Tim Kahn added 2 goals of his own, along with a goal from Luke MacAlpine and Gabe Calderon apiece. Caleb Goings had 9 saves, while Milorad Pavlovic collected 5 assists.
Assistant coach Michael Urrutia commented, “It was great for the guys to keep it close against a nationally ranked team.”
The day wasn’t over for the Sunbirds. Coach Urrutia added, “the guys carried the energy [from the first game] into the next game,” and it showed after the 10-0 bashing they put on Penn State Behrend at the end of the first half. The Sunbirds never let up, and finished up with a 16-3 victory.
Calderon finished up with 5 goals, while Ray Eggert, Pavlovic and Kovacs each had a hat trick, putting in 3 goals apiece. Jake Brotsis and MacAlpine each recorded a goal as well.
Goings had 6 saves in the first half, while Riley Warner stopped 7 in the second. Warner also played the field in the first half, helping with 2 assists and a steal.
Tomorrow the Sunbirds return to the pool to take on La Verne and Mercyhurst to finish off the Claremont Convergence. The sprints will start at 10:15 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively.