Box Score SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — In its first-ever regular-season game against Sonoma State, the Dominican University of California women's soccer team made it count for something on Thursday. Something big.

Junior Julianna Bratsberg and senior co-captain Shayna Elkins scored goals on headers as the Lady Penguins posted an impressive 2-1 season-opening win over the Seawolves in a non-conference contest in San Rafael.

“I'm very proud of our players and I'm excited for the whole program,” said Director of Soccer Jon Delano. “We have been transitioning since our last years of NAIA into NCAA. They used to beat us 4-0 (in exhibitions, scrimmages) so this just shows we're closing the gap and how competitive we're becoming as an NCAA institution.”

Bratsberg, with her back to the goal, netted her goal at the 37:33 mark of the first half by heading a terrific long side throw-in from freshman Kendra Corsberg. The two have worked on the set play in practice.

“She throws it. I flick it,” Bratsberg said. “I'm glad it finally worked out. I do it all the time and it never works. I was surprised. It was awesome.”

After Sonoma State tied the game seven minutes into the second half, Elkins scored seven minutes later when she laid out in the goal mouth and headed a crossing pass by teammate Alex Moran into the net. The play began with a Bratsberg pass.

“It's a really good start. We've been climbing up this hump and winning this gets us going,” Bratsberg said.
The final minutes of the game were anxious ones for the Penguins. Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Herring, one of six underclassmen in Dominican's starting lineup, had four saves in the game, but she had plenty of support in front of her. Center defenders Megan Hanson and Kathryn Ripple “formed a great partnership out there,” Delano said.

Hanson had a critical block in the final minutes after senior defender Katie Brown came up with a vital clearing kick in front of Herring.

“It was really important to come out and with a strong win,” Brown said. “We needed to be super defensive and win every ball. That was one of our goals before we stepped on the field and we accomplished that. From now on we'll always have that tempo to get on the field and play our best the rest of the season.”

Dominican travels to Cal State East Bay in Hayward on Saturday. The Lady Penguins will look to improve to 2-0 when they face the host Pioneers at 4:30 p.m.