Box Score SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — A little more than 10 minutes from winning its first game of the season, the Dominican University of California men's soccer team on Wednesday watched visiting CSU San Bernardino score a game-tying goal in regulation then tally the game-ending goal just 24 seconds into the second overtime to hand the Penguins a devastating 2-1 defeat.

The non-conference loss for Dominican (0-5-0) overshadowed a standout effort by freshman defender Cory Vanderpool and a great goal by sophomore Sam Vella.

“Cory Vanderpool was fantastic,” said Dominican Director of Soccer Jon Delano. “He probably put together our most complete performance out of anyone today from the first to the last minute.”

Vanderpool and teammates Evan Myers, Dennis Maric, and Fabian Valdez in the back were challenged in the first half when the Penguins came out flat and were outshot 11-2 by the visiting Coyotes.

Nevertheless, for the second consecutive game, the Penguins took a 1-0 lead. Their goal, with 41:08 left in regulation time, developed after sophomore David Mendez settled the ball off his chest and made a one-touch pass to freshman Carl Fitzgerald. He immediately played the ball down the right sideline to the speedy freshman Kolby Mitnick. He dribbled the ball toward the end line then sent a crossing pass into the box. Vella sprinted down the middle of the field and met Mitnick's pass and directed in past the Coyotes' All-American goalkeeper Tanner Olinger.

“It came from making some changes at halftime,” said Delano. “We were trying to attack too much down the middle of the field in the first half and we were better in the second half in creating some opportunities.”

Vella, who played left back on defense last season, has been switched to midfielder after sitting out the previous game against Hawai'i Pacific for a red card.

“He's got a soccer IQ and he's a good soccer player,” said Delano. “Sam has an opportunity to establish himself at that position the rest of the season.”

Vella appeared to have scored the game-winning goal until CSUSB's Lee Nishanian tied it on a header past Penguins goalkeeper Casey Gibson with 10:14 to play, then Julio Ayala scored the game-ending goal off a chip pass by Juan Galarza over the Dominican defense during the Coyotes' first possession in the second 10-minute OT.

“Being so young, the important thing is not to get our heads down. We need to learn to grind out wins,” said Delano, who started eight freshmen against CSU San Bernardino (2-3-0). “We're sending the team to Southern California and we need to get results.”

Dominican hits the road on Friday, traveling to Riverside to play Cal Baptist (4-2-0/2-0-0) twice in three days. The Penguins face the Lancers, the Pacific West Conference's newest member, on Saturday, September 24 at 4:00 p.m. and again on Monday, September 26 at the same time.