Box Score SAN JOSE, Calif. — Playing on a big field on the big stage against an NCAA Division I opponent for the first time in its program's history, the Dominican University of California women's soccer team fell short in a 3-0 loss to San Jose State at Spartan Stadium on Tuesday night.

Kelsey Lord scored a controversial goal in the first half and assisted on two goals in the second half for the two-time defending Western Athletic Conference champion Spartans (3-9-0) to hand the Lady Penguins (3-6-0) a non-conference defeat.

The experience, however, was a memorable one for the Dominican women.

“It was a fantastic,” said Dominican Director of Soccer Jon Delano. “They didn't come out scared, that's for sure. I'm very proud of them for that in the sense they were ready to play. They played very well in the first half.”

The Lady Penguins played the Spartans even the first 15 minutes before San Jose State got the break it was looking for. Kelsy Holm played a long ball for the speedy Lord, who broke behind the Dominican defense. Dominican goalkeeper Megan Herring came nearly 35 yards out of the goal in an attempt to beat Lord to Holm's pass, but sprawling to the ground could only manage to get a piece of the loose ball. It appeared to bounce up and strike Lord's left forearm but no hand-ball call was made.

Lord quickly recovered it to the left and alertly launched a shot from about 20 yards away into an empty net.

Otherwise, Dominican's defense was in position in the first half, though the Spartans outshot the Penguins 8-2.

“We played really good soccer in the first half,” said Delano. “We struggled when they changed formations in the second half… I told them before the game and at halftime if we make mistakes we're making mistakes because we're trying to play soccer correctly.”

The Spartans didn't miss many of their chances in the second half.  Lord assisted on goals by Megan Molina and freshman Abigail Hernandez less than seven minutes into the final 45 minutes. Seconds later, Herring lunged out of the goal to block a shot by Lord that would have made it 4-0.

Herring had seven saves before being replaced with 20 minutes to play. Tori Selesia created some space on offense with her speed and dribbling, teammates Lexi Humphry and Julianna Bratsberg recorded shots for the Lady Penguins and Jillian Nunes had Dominican's best scoring chance late in the game when SJSU back-up goalkeeper Gladis Covarrubias collided with her in the box.

Outshot 20-2 in the game, the Lady Penguins kept it close thanks to defenders Megan Hanson, Kendra Corsberg, Emily Whitaker, and Katie Brown, plus midfielders Carrie Freyer and Shayna Elkins.

Dominican next heads on a two-game Pacific West Conference road trip to Utah and Arizona. The Lady Penguins play Dixie State College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, then visit Grand Canyon University on Monday at 5:45p.m. Pacific time.