HAYWARD, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay women's soccer team completed their opening week home stand with a 2-0, victory over West Region opponent Fresno Pacific Saturday evening, September 1 at Pioneer Stadium.
 
It was a huge win for the Pioneers as the Sunbirds were picked to finish first in the PacWest this season. It was also CSUEB's second consecutive win over Fresno Pacific and their first 2-0 start to the season since 2012.
 
The Pioneers dominated a physical and aggressive game that featured four yellow cards before the final horn; three of which we issued to Cal State East Bay. All for yellow cards were given out in the final 10 minutes of game action.
 
Cal State East Bay's leading scorer Abby Buitrago (San Jose, Calif.) opened the scoring for the Pioneers as she dribbled a pass from Jordan Lemieux (Bothell, Wash.) down the left side and through the right side of the goal. The score came in the 14th minute of play as CSUEB took a 1-0 lead on Buitrago's second goal on the season and Lemieux's second helper of 2018.
 
CSUEB took a 1-0 lead into the intermission, but sealed the game in the 62nd minute as Liz Hernandez (Whittier, Calif.) put in a shot over the goalie's head off a perfect pass from the right side by junior Chace Miguel (Hollister, Calif.) to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. Senior Bri Vallente (Waikoloa, Hawaii) also earned an assist on the play as she weaved through the crowd a forwarded a pass to Miguel.
 
For Hernandez it was her first goal of the season as it was also Chace Miguel and Bri Vallente's first assists of the year as well.
 
Cal State East Bay walked away from Pioneer Stadium with a 2-0, win despite being outshot 8-5 by Fresno Pacific. All eight of the Sunbirds shots came on goal while three of the Pioneers came on the box.
 
Abby Buitrago lead the Pioneers with two shots while Chace Miguel, Liz Hernandez and Savannah Schultz (Folsom, Calif.) all attempted one shot apiece.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Briana Vasquez-Ortiz (Long Beach, Calif.) logged all 90 minutes in the box and compiled a career best eight saves. The Pioneers have yet to allow a goal on the season.
 
Cal State East Bay will return to action when they welcome the visiting Penguins of Dominican University to Pioneer Stadium for a match on Wednesday afternoon, September 5 scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. kick off.