STOCKTON, Calif. -- Sophomore Abigail Lopez recorded her first career brace, netting goals in each half on Sunday night, but it wasn't enough for Sacramento State as Pacific unleashed a flurry of three unanswered first-half goals and pulled away for a 4-2 victory at Knoles Field in Stockton, Calif.
The Hornets fell to 0-2 overall with the defeat, while the Tigers earned their first win of the season and moved to 1-0-1 overall.
Lopez, who led the team with four goals a season ago, picked up her first career multi-goal game, giving her side an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute by sneaking in a shot off an Aubrey Goodwill free kick for the 1-0 lead.
The Tigers answered with the tying goal in the 21st and went ahead for good with another goal three minutes later for the 2-1 lead. After Sacramento State had an apparent tying goal waved off due to a foul in the box in the 25th minute, Pacific tacked on a third just before the end of the half in the 37th minute for the 3-1 advantage.
Switching sides after the break, Lopez wasted little time to score her second in the 49th minute, drawing a foul in the box off another Goodwill free kick that sent her to the penalty spot, where she coverted to make it 3-2.
Pacific was unfazed, however, rebuilding it's two-goal advantage just 17 seconds later and the two teams played it out from there.
Freshman Madelyn Dougherty finished with a team-high three shot attempts, while Lopez and Ariana Nino added a pair apiece. Fresh off a 15-save performance against No. 21-ranked Stanford on Thursday, goalkeeper Mia Shalit finished with five saves on the night.
Sacramento State opens a run of three consecutive matches at home on Thursday (Aug. 25), welcoming UC Santa Barbara to Hornet Soccer Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
