FRESNO, Calif. -- Cyro Oliveira converted a penalty kick in the 81st minute to cut a 2-0 deficit in half, but the Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer team was unable to net the equalizer in the final nine minutes of action, resulting in a 2-1 loss at Fresno Pacific on Tuesday evening in Fresno.  The Broncos suffer their second straight loss, falling to 1-2 this season.  It was the Sunbirds' season-opener, so they begin 2018 at 1-0.

Cal Poly Pomona held the edge in shots (13-10) and corner kicks (7-5) in the contest, and CPP even had a man advantage in the final 9:18 after Fresno Pacific's goalkeeper Patrick Timmer was issued a straight red card late in the second half.  The foul that warranted the red card drew a penalty kick in which Oliveira converted, but that would be the final shot attempted by CPP the rest of the way.

The host Sunbirds broke the scoreless tie in the 18th minute on a goal by Isaiah Asencio, then FPU padded their lead in the 61st minute with a goal by Jose Vargas to lead the Broncos 2-0 late, but Vargas' goal would hold up to be the eventual game-winner in the end.

Of the 13 shots attempted by CPP, Oliveira and Jimmie Villalobos combined for 10 of the shots, each of them taking five.  Jakob Hansen made two saves in the loss for CPP.

Cal Poly Pomona returns to action next Wednesday at Concordia-Irvine.  Game time is set for 1:00 pm.