STOCKTON, Calif. – Playing their final match of the season under the bright lights of Knoles Field, the seniors of the Pacific men's soccer team stood out in the spotlight and on the scoresheet in the 3-1 victory over Saint Mary's on Saturday.
 
The Tigers' (4-8-4, 2-5-1 WCC) strong start infused a night of celebration with a season-high three goals to secure the result over the Gaels (2-9-6, 1-4-3 WCC) on Senior Night. Senior Joshua Moya, senior Emmanuel Obiefuna, graduate student Lukas Aeberli, graduate student Javier Chavez, fifth year Vinzent Zingel, graduate student Kai Sullivan, senior Jorge Galvan, fifth year Abdullahi Mohamed and graduate student Ignacio Flores III were honored in a pregame ceremony and ended the evening with triumph.
 
"It's bittersweet," head coach Adam Reeves said. "You can see the danger that the seniors provided for us. I'm happy for the group and the way they went out tonight. They fought the whole way and competed all night."
 
Sullivan led the charge offensively for the group of nine seniors, recording his first collegiate multi-point performance with a goal and an assist. Junior Matteo Carbone also notched his first collegiate multi-point effort, including scoring his first goal as a Tiger and the game-winner.
 
Moya, who started all 16 games this season in goal for Pacific, totaled six saves on the night, including a key save late in the contest to keep the Gaels at bay.
 
Six Tigers played the full length of the match with Moya, Obiefuna, Chavez, junior Danny Govea, Carbone and Flores III going the distance.
 
Galvan kicked off the party with his first goal of the season and second of his career, high kicking in a shot off junior Jose Maria Barrera's pass for the game's opening goal in the 17th minute. 
 
The Tigers capitalized on another rush moments later as Sullivan sent a cross into the box and Carbone headed the ball into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead in the 19th minute. Pacific would carry that margin into the halftime break. 
 
Momentum would continue to swing in favor of the Tigers to start the second half. With Obiefuna and junior Jacob Heisner jumping up on a set piece, the pair of defenders connected on passes to find Sullivan, who sealed Pacific's third goal of the night for a 3-0 lead in the 59th minute. Sullivan registered his second goal in as many games while Obiefuna and Heisner picked up their first assists of the season on the play.
 
The Gaels found a goal in 65th minute, but the Tigers stymied the rest of the visitors' attacking pressure to preserve the 3-1 win.

Stay Social
For all the latest on Pacific Men's Soccer, be sure to follow the team on X (@PacificMSoccer) Instagram (@pacificmsoccer) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (Pacific Men's Soccer).
 
#PacificProud