Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. — The Dominican University of California men's soccer team just couldn't finish what it started on Saturday night in a 2-0 non-conference loss at Cal State East Bay.

The Penguins (0-2) couldn't capitalize on several excellent scoring opportunities in the first half and midway through the second half before the host Pioneers seized the momentum. The game-winning goal came as a result of a Dominican foul that led to a direct kick by Cal State East Bay's Rey Suarez about eight feet outside the box. Penguins goalkeeper Casey Gibson, the only upperclassman in Dominican's young starting lineup, made the initial save on the direct kick but the ball bounced up out of his hands, struck underneath the cross bar then dropped down to the Pioneers' Tyler Andersen who kicked it into the back of the net with 19:36 remaining in the contest.

Six minutes later, Suarez tallied the other goal for Cal State East Bay (1-1) unassisted.

“I thought we were horribly unlucky,” said Penguins Director of Soccer Jon Delano. “Between our scrimmages and our first game of the season this is the best that we've played collectively. I thought we were very dynamic. I thought we were very dangerous.  We created a lot of opportunities for ourselves. Unfortunately, kudos for East Bay for capitalizing on their opportunities. We just didn't tonight.”

It wasn't because of lack of effort. Frontliners sophomore David Mendez and freshmen Kolby Mitnick, and Nuri Bon-Acosta put the Penguins in position to score several times with their standout play.

“Their [Cal State East Bay's] defenders were constantly under pressure from those three,” Delano said.

In the first half, Mendez had a great look at the Cal State East Bay goal a minute into the game but kicked it wide left and Manny Sandoval-Gutierrez loaded up from 35 yards out and had a mighty strike that went high. Freshman defender Evan Myers also had a solid strike at the goal.

In the second half, Bon-Acosta had the ball in space inside the box and kicked it wide right. Mendez and Mitnick set up Bon-Acosta for another chance about 20 minutes later but the Dominican freshman kicked wide right again.

The Penguins had 12 shots on goal in the game.

“I thought we were very good,” Delano said. “I have no issues. I felt like overall, collectively, it was our best performance. I thought we were very dangerous.”

Just not very lucky.

Dominican returns to action on Wednesday at 3:15 p.m., hosting Western Washington at Forest Meadows Field in San Rafael.