FRESNO, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University had the early lead but homestanding Fresno Pacific came back with two goals to defeat HPU 2-1 in PacWest Conference action at Ramierez Field Tuesday night.
 
The Sharks (5-6-6, 3-3-4) fell for the fourth time in seven games decided by a goal, while the Sunbirds (7-9-1, 7-3) won their fourth straight.
 
The Sharks got the early lead when freshman Brittny Ihara of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City scored in her third straight game. Ihara once again got a feed from junior Ebony Madrid of Porterville, Calif./Ramstein (Germany) in a crowded box and shot to the left to score and give HPU a 1-0 advantage.
 
The lead lasted to the 36th minute when the Sunbirds evened the score as Nalani Wall scored her first career goal off an assist from Rachel Anderson to make it 1-1.
 
That score held until the 62nd minute when FPU's Whitney Snow found an open Alexis Macias who got past the defender and fired a rocket to the lower left corner for the 2-1 lead.
 
The Sunbirds used a hard attack to thwart HPU's late game comeback and grab the win.
 
HPU senior goalkeeper Lauren Spencer of Oxford, Mich./Oxford faced 18 FPU shots, recording six saves with two goal allowed.
 
Sunbird goalkeeper Alex Benevidez saw seven shots by the Sharks, allowing the one goal with four saves.
 
The Sharks close the 2018 season again cross-town rival Chaminade on Saturday. The Senior Night contest is set for 7 p.m. under the lights at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.