FRESNO, CA. - The Fresno Pacific women's soccer team defeated Hope International 4-0 in their Conference opener Saturday afternoon at Ramirez field in 100 degree temperatures. With the win, the Sunbirds set a new Program record for consecutive victories (6), and improve to 6-1 on the season.
In Saturday's match versus Hope (6-2-1), both teams battled in the first half with the period ending deadlocked at 0-0. However, Fresno Pacific built momentum and enjoyed the bulk of possession throughout the opening half while outshooting the Lions 10-5.
The Sunbirds controlled large portions of the second period as well and continued to put HIU under even more pressure.
FPU's breakthrough came just minutes into the second period after Hope was cited for a foul on Fresno Pacific senior Ida Rodriguez committed inside the penalty box. Senior Mayra Garcia converted the PK in the 48th minute to give the Sunbirds the 1-0 lead.
Rodriguez would then go from provider to goal scorer in the 60th minute after a great individual effort ended with a 25 yard left footed strike that found the upper-right corner of the Lion's goal for the 2-0 score line.
Fellow senior and team captain Danielle Dickie added her own goal to the Sunbird's score sheet in the 66th minute with a header following an FPU corner kick to extend the FPU lead to 3-0.
Freshman Demi Hamilton rounded out the scoring for the orange and blue in the 90th minute after combing with teammate, and fellow Selma graduate Leslie De Ochoa, for the fourth and final goal of the contest, and her third of the season.
Sophomore goalkeeper Catherine Michaelis made 5 saves in the contest and recorded her 5th shutout of the season, while the Sunbirds had the edge in shots 16-8.
"Our team is really coming along and showing continued signs of progress,” FPU head coach Erik Farfan said. “The consecutive wins record is nice, but we just hope to continue building off this momentum one game at a time and stay focused for every match.”
The 2004 and 2007 teams shared the previous consecutive wins record with five consecutive victories in each of those campaigns, respectively.