Bulldogs soar over Sunbirds in exhibition match

By Kim Anderson
The Collegian

Fresno State women’s soccer earned a 4-1 victory Saturday in an exhibition match against Fresno Pacific University.

Junior forward Courtney Sobrero earned two first half goals, giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead going into the half.

The scoring started off in the 23rd minute when Sobrero pressured the Sunbird defense and after retrieving the ball, snuck past goaltender Audra Carter to find an open net.

The Bulldogs continued to pressure the Sunbird net and after a series of fouls from both sides, Sobrero hooked up with junior midfielder Antonea Lugo to put the dogs up 2-0.

“A strength we have is our ability to possess the ball,” said head coach Steve Springthorpe. “We try to find a creative way of getting behind the defense.”

A pressuring Bulldog offense dominated the field with a series of corner kicks and shots on goal.

With three minutes remaining in the first half, senior forward Kortney Lewis had an opportunity when she jetted past the defense and made a left-footed cross which was headed out by the Sunbird defense. A minute late,r Lewis attacked again with a low shot from the front of the net blocked by the defense.

“We work very hard in practice and in gam. It’s very intense,” said Sobrero.

To start off the second half, the Sunbirds came out strong. At about the 50 minute mark, Sunbird junior midfielder Elizabeth Burns scored with a high shot on goaltender Chelsea Mays for the only Sunbird goal of the evening.

Junior goaltender Angie Larsen and junior Jeannette Paine also had time in net for the Bulldogs. 20 minutes later,Bulldog midfielder Yvette Flores scored on a high corner shot, putting the ‘Dogs up 3-1. Midfielder Erika Sugano pushed the lead to three on a pass from sophomore forward Mercedes Splettstoesser.

The ‘Dogs took a total of 22 shots on goal and 11 corner kicks.

“We are going to take it game by game,” said Sobrero. “We will focus on working on our faults because we have a lot to do come November.”

The Bulldogs begin season play this Friday at home against UC Santa Barbara.