Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - GSAC Game #1
Final: Sunbirds 4, Vanguard 2

Box score

Cameron Hill's header at 38:20 proved to be the match-winner as the Sunbirds opened Golden State Athletic play with a 4-2 win over the Vanguard University Lions at Steinert Field tonight.

Amaury Nunes opened the scoring at 11:30 converting a penalty kick after being hauled down in the box.

Mariano Salcedo tied it at 22:30 on a set piece from just outside the box.

The Sunbirds regained the lead two minutes later when Adrian Alvarado notched his first of the season.

Hill's flicked Juan Alfaro's cross high to the far post past Tommaso Bianchi in the Lions goal.

James Grigas got the Lions back in it with a penalty kick at 53:00.

FPU responded less than three minutes later with Hill's second goal of the night. This time he sent Fernando Vaca's pass low to the far post past William Johnson.

The Sunbirds out-shot the Lions 18-5. Bianchi played the first 45 minutes in the Lions goal and was credited with four saves, but charged with three goals. He was relieved by Johnson at half time and credited with six saves.

The win erased some bad memories for FPU head coach Jaime Ramirez.

"This was a measure of redemption," said Ramirez when reminded of last season. "They spanked us at their place early in the season, then ended ours with a late goal in the playoffs. This is a good way to start conference play."

The loss dropped the Lions record to 4-4-1 overall and 0-1-1 in GSAC play.

The Sunbirds, now 2-2-2 on the season, travel to Riverside to face California Baptist on Saturday. They return to Steinert Field next Tuesday when they host Hope International.

Updated Records
Vanguard: 4-4-1, 0-1-1
Fresno Pacific: 2-2-2, 1-0-0

Updated Series Record
FPU now leads 29-8-1

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Fresno Pacific University offers undergraduate and graduate programs that stress solid academic preparation and a strong ethical foundation. Each year more than 2,000 traditional and adult students attend classes on the 42-acre main campus in southeast Fresno or centers in Visalia and Bakersfield. The university also reaches 12,000 students across the nation and around the world through professional development studies programs. The only four-year Christian university in the Central Valley, FPU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and ranked in the top quarter among Western universities master's category by U.S. News & World Report.