FRESNO, Calif. – The Jessup Women's Soccer team earned a valuable PacWest Conference point Tuesday night, battling the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds to a hard-fought draw, 1-1.
The result, a key PacWest Conference tie, moves Jessup's overall record to 1-6-3 (0-3-2 PacWest). Head Coach Amsalu Fantahun praised his squad's resilience, particularly the defensive effort that shut down the Sunbirds' attack for the final 59 minutes of the match.
The contest began with a flurry of activity with a total of 17 shots in the first half shared by both sides. Jessup found the net first with a goal at the 16:44 mark from Karlee Lywandowsky for her first goal of the season.
Fresno Pacific responded 15 minutes later with a score of their own. Bailey Roberson tied the affair with a goal at the 31:48 minute assisted by Gizelle Aguirre. Following the early exchanges, the game settled into a tight defensive battle, with both sides trading possession as they fought to gain control of the midfield.
As the clock wound down, the Warriors' defense became the star of the show. Goalkeeper Celeste Fernandez delivered a phenomenal performance, tallying nine saves on the night and anchoring a back line that refused to yield.
Fernandez's most crucial moment came late in the second half. After FPU was awarded a penalty kick at the 85:39 minute, Fernandez stared down the Sunbird shooter and made a decisive, game-preserving save, ensuring the match remained tied at 1-1.
Jessup finished the game with nine total shots, putting four of them on target, while FPU out shot the Warriors 20-9 for the contest. The single point earned on the road marks a significant result for the Warriors as they enter the back half of their conference schedule.
The Warriors will return home for their next match to host Dominican University on Saturday, October 18, at Warrior Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 AM.
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Jessup University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).
