ROHNERT PARK, Calif-  Sonoma State broke open a tie game with back-to-back goals in the fourth quarter, including the eventual game-winner from Kyleigh Shea, to defeat Fresno Pacific 10-9 in their regular season opener on Saturday afternoon in Rohnert Park.  The Seawolves go to 1-0 on the young season while the Sunbirds start out 2011 at 0-1.

Sonoma's Jessica Stanfield opened play with a goal just 22 seconds in to give the Seawolves an early 1-0 game.  From there, the teams would go back and forth, until Stanfield and Shea combined for three goals to put the Seawolves up 6-3 at the beginning of the third quarter.

While the first two quarters belonged to Sonoma, the third was decidedly in the Sunbirds' corner.  Four consecutive goals over a two and a half minute stretch handed the Sewaolves' their first deficit of the game, though it would quickly disappear when Kelsey Lowy beat the third quarter buzzer with a goal to tie it, 7-7.

With the game tied at eight, Malina Lorring delivered her first goal of the year to put SSU up a goal with 4:23 left.  Shortly later, Shea would net the eventual game-winner. 

The Sunbirds' Nicolette Haley scored with 1:33 remaining to draw within one, but FPU's last opportunity was stuffed by Seawolf goalkeeper Kelsey Goode to preserve the win.

Shea and Stansfield each had three goals to pace Sonoma State.  Goode had eight saves and chipped in with an assist.

Katie Rayner paced the Sunbirds with three goals.

The Seawolves will return to action next weekend when they participate in the Cal Invitational in Berkeley.

Sonoma State 10, Fresno Pacific 9

FPU (0-1) -- 2  1  4  2 - 9
SSU (1-0) -- 3  2  2  3 - 10

SSU goals:  Jessica Stansfield (3), Kyleigh Shea (3), Natalie Del Carlo (1), Kelsey Lowy (1), Lindsay Rangel (1), Malina Lorring (1).

FPU goals:  Katie Rayner (3), Nicolette Haley (2), Michelle Kaplan (2), Krista Loper (1), Jen Wolter (1).