FRESNO, Calif. – The Chaminade University men's soccer team opened their three-match mainland road trip Monday with a 3-0 loss to Fresno Pacific in the Pacific West Conference opener for both teams at Ramirez Field.
The defeat dropped the Silverswords to 0-5-1 on the season while the Sunbirds improved to 4-3-0.
Chris Macias scored twice for FPU including the game's first goal in the 24th minute.
The 'Swords had a prime opportunity to even the match in the 57th minute when FPU goalkeeper Elmer Carabello whiffed on a shot in front of the left post. The ball trickled parallel across the goal line before a defender cleared the ball away before a 'Swords could get to it.
In the 58th minute, 'Swords goalkeeper
Jonah Valmonte (Poolesville, Md./Robert Morris University/Poolesville HS), making just his second career start made a diving save to prevent a second Sunbirds goal and keep it a one-score game. However, Fresno Pacific would get its insurance score a minute later when Guilherme Marinho received a perfect through-ball and fired an 18-footer past a charging Valmonte.
Owen Malone (Carlsbad, Calif./Univ. of Saint Katherine/Carlsbad HS) nearly got Chaminade on the scoreboard but his shot off the right angle from 15-yards out drifted wide of the left post.
The 'Swords were held to six shots, two on-goal, on the evening, two each from Malone and
Owen Caba (West Linn, Ore./West Linn). Valmonte made 10 saves in the loss which dropped his record to 0-2.
FPU attempted 16 shots, 15 on target with Carabello making two saves to pick up the win.
The Silverswords will face Academy of Art at Paul Goode Field in San Francisco on Thursday.
