THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Fresno Pacific (4-12) got two more wins for the season as they split at the Cal Lutheran Tournament 2-2. The Sunbirds began with a tough loss to San Diego State 3-25, but came back with wins over Mercyhurst and La Verne 10-8 and 11-6, respectively. The Sunbirds concluded the weekend with another tough loss against Occidental 2-16.
Yulia Blinovskya led the Sunbirds with nine goals with at least one goal in every game. Blinovskya had two three goals game in both wins for the Sunbirds.
The Sunbirds struggled against San Diego State, trailing at half 1-10. Blinovskya scored two goals while Borbala Toth scored the Sunbirds’ remaining goal. Fresno Pacific responded well as they came back with a win over Mercyhurst. The Sunbirds came out strong with a 7-2 lead at half, and despite Mercyhurst bringing the lead down to two, the Sunbirds held on to win 10-8. Toth put in three more goals, finishing up with four on the weekend, and Jen Wolter had two goals. Deborah Wall and Katelyn Ball each had a goal apiece to assist in the win.
The Sunbirds carried their momentum into Saturday as they got a strong win over La Verne. The Sunbirds broke open a 5-0 lead after the first quarter and never looked up. Fresno Pacific led by as much as seven goals at the end of the third. Ball came up big to have her own three-goal hat trick, while Wolter put in another two goals. Both Ball and Wolter finished with four goals apiece for the weekend. Marissa Nunez, Melissa Perry and Wall each had a goal in their win against La Verne.
The Sunbirds finished the weekend with a difficult game, losing to Occidental 2-16. The Sunbirds only goals came once in the first quarter and once in the fourth quarter. Blinovskya scored once for her ninth goal of the weekend, while Wall scored once for her second goal of the weekend.
The Sunbirds will continue their season next weekend at the Claremont Convergence on Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15.
RESULTS (scores by quarter):
San Diego State def FPU 3-25 (1-5, 1-10, 2-19, 3-25)
Blinovskya 2, Toth 1
FPU def Mercyhurst 10-8 (2-1, 7-2, 8-6, 10-8)
Blinovskya 3, Toth 3, Wolter 2, Wall, Ball
FPU def La Verne 11-6 (5-0, 6-3, 10-3, 11-6)
Blinovskya 3, Ball 3, Wolter 2, Nunes, Wall, Perry
Occidental def FPU 2-16 (1-2, 1-3, 1-9, 2-16)
Blinkovskya, Wall