Box Score SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Before a season-high “Spirit Week” crowd of more than 200, the Dominican University of California women's soccer team on Friday played a spirited match against the eighth ranked team in the West Region in the latest NCAA Division II poll but succumbed to a trio of second-half goals in a hard-fought 3-1 defeat.

Senior Shayna Elkins scored Dominican's goal – her third of the season -- with 31 seconds left on a header from a corner kick by Katie Brown. The defeat, however, dashed Dominican's visions of a huge upset victory over the Seasiders (12-2-1/7-2-1).

“If ever there was a game that doesn't feel like a 3-1 loss,” said Dominican Director of Soccer Jon Delano. “They have may have more chances, but the game was evenly played. At the end of day they got the results and we didn't.”

 In the scoreless first half, the Lady Penguins (3-11-1/1-7-1) played the defending Pacific West Conference champions even and had a golden opportunity to score the go-ahead goal. A long side throw-in by Brown into the 18-yard box was intended for teammate Julianna Bratsberg, but Seasiders goalkeeper Megan McCain came out and clipped Bratsberg from behind, knocking her to the ground.

The foul, at the 17-minute mark, resulted in a penalty kick against McCain, who entered the game with a conference-high seven shutouts and was ranked 15th in the nation in NCAA Division II in goals against average (0.474 per game). But Bratsberg's PK hit the crossbar and teammate Emily Whitaker couldn't quite get a foot on the rebound.

The Seasiders' best scoring chance was a straight-on shot by Natalie Drewery at the 29-minute mark that soared high over Dominican goalkeeper Megan Herring and the crossbar.

“We played very well. Our effort was very good,” said Delano. “I thought we made life very difficult for them.”

Early in the second half, Dominican had a couple of decent scoring chances. Whitaker had a shot go wide left of the far post and, a few minutes later, Whitaker, Tori Selesia, and Kaitlynn Baptista were all near a loose ball when McCain came high out of the goal but none the Lady Penguins could get to it to shoot it at the empty net.

“We didn't capitalize,” said Delano. “What did their goals come off? A corner kick, a penalty kick, and a rebound? It's good within the sense that we are preventing them from scoring goals through the run of play, but that's a testament to my midfielders Shayna and Kendra [Corsberg]. Both of them were spectacular.”

The Seasiders scored the game-winning goal at the 58-minute mark on a rebound after a great diving save by Herring. She stopped a blistering shot by BYU-Hawaii senior Brenna Rhoades but the ball bounced out to Abbie Lever who didn't miss the chance to find the back of the net.

Five minutes later, the Seasiders extended the lead on a penalty kick by freshman Rylie North. BYU-Hawaii capped the scoring with 16 minutes remaining in the game when Heather Conk kicked in a corner kick by Lever past Raquel "Rocky" Ramos, who replaced Megan Herring in goal with 20 minutes to go.

The Lady Penguins return to PacWest action on Wednesday, November 2 when they host Hawai'i Hilo. Game time at Forest Meadows Field is 12:30 p.m.