Vanguard University

COSTA MESA - Women's soccer hosted Fresno Pacific at the VU Soccer Complex for the first time since 2010, mirroring the same scoreline from 16 years ago with a 3-0 win on Tuesday afternoon to close the nonconference schedule. The Lions delivered a complete team performance, with three different goalscorers and a season-best 21 shots with 14 on target, the most in the decade so far.

Kate Burns opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, then set up Aneala Sibayan's first career goal just 36 seconds later for a 2-0 halftime score. Another freshman was involved in the third goal, as Abby Trujillo set up Vanessa Pastrana in the 64^th minute to help steer VU to victory.

The Blue and Gold snap a four-game winless run to head into the Pacific West Conference schedule next week with a 2-4-1 record. Fresno Pacific drop to 1-2, with their CCAA opener this Friday back home at Ramirez Field.

PacWest Defender of the Week Grayton Normand only required four saves in the win, all of which came in the second half. FPU's Brielle Calhoun had a career-best 11 stops in the Sunbird net.

What Happened? Fresno Pacific hit the left side of the woodwork after 48 seconds as both teams opened with an end-to end exchange to put the match in motion. It only took five minutes for Vanguard to put out the Fresno flames; however, as a dominant midfield showing kept the visitors off the ball and fueled a 12-1 first-half shot tally.

Trujillo made a welcome return to the starting 11 after her comeback appearance against Cal State LA on Saturday. The freshman bossed the first 15 minutes of the game, with the left footer forcing two early FPU saves and giving VU two quick corner kicks with incessant pressure from the right wing. Hailey Garvin and Audrey Swannis also got involved with a pair of efforts inside the opening 12 minutes but couldn't quite snatch their strikes on target.

Naia Kaulukukui's shot was saved bottom right in the 16th minute, but continued the trend of Vanguard's voracity to shoot from outside the box.

Trujillo tacked on another shot in the 28th minute before the floodgates finally opened up from the Fresno defense. Burns came on in minute 29 and found herself on the scoresheet just two minutes later. VU launched an attack down the right wing, with Burns settling the ball from the flanks with her back to two defenders. The sophomore split past two Sunbirds, drove the ball goalward, and cracked a low, hard shot with her left boot, beating Calhoun at her near post for 1-0.

The lid stayed open after FPU's restart, as Vanguard immediately hunted down the ball from the Sunbird build up at the back and won it once more at the right wing. Burns turned back and slotted the ball to Sibayan, who, square in front of the 18-yard box, hoisted a potent finish to the top left corner to double VU's lead.

Kaylee Cuttress had the last two shots of a stellar Vanguard half; her second try came from outside the box and was kept by Calhoun going down the mouth of the net.

Second-half shot tallies were even at 9-9, with six saves from Calhoun to keep the Lion score within reason. The Blue and Gold remained in control of the game's tempo through the midfield, but Fresno produced quality chances, with the visitors denied twice by the woodwork.

The first warning shot was in the 49th in a swift FPU attack that led to a shot from distance. Normand made her first grasp of the day to shut down the opportunity. The 62^nd minute was all about FPU's Bailey Roberson, who started her move near midfield before gliding past three Lions to carry the run goalward. Roberson cut in from the left wing and launched a rocket past Normand as VU's net was saved only by the crossbar.

Fresno's momentum was halted in one fell swoop as a Vanguard breakaway offered the game's final goal. Trujillo led the attack with a sharp burst through midfield before slotting the ball in toward Pastrana. The freshman forward peeled her run to the right side away from pressure, settled the ball with one touch and pierced the shot to the top left corner for her first career goal.

At 3-0 Vanguard, the visitors still planted two more chances on the stat sheet. Their best look came after an FPU center-half dribbled past three Lions and sparked a Fresno attack. The Sunbirds wheeled in a cross from the right that was met in the box by Kimberly Garcia, who became the second Bird to hit the woodwork, securing VU's clean sheet and win to end nonconference action.

Kaulukukui led VU with four shots and three on goal. Trujillo, Cuttress, and Sibayan added three shots each, with Trujillo planting all three on target.

The Lions also had two debutants step on to finish out the win, with Mikaila Aina and Lucy Cuevas earning their first career minutes with the Blue and Gold.

What's Next? The Blue and Gold start the PacWest by hosting Westmont next Wednesday, September 23, at 1:30 pm.