Box Score SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Though they dominated the final half and outshot Academy of Art University in the process, the Dominican University of California men's soccer team couldn't score the tying goal in a disappointing 1-0 home loss to the Urban Knights in Thursday's Pacific West Conference contest.

Things just didn't go right enough for the Penguins.

During a three-minute span in the second half, the Penguins (7-6-0/3-6-0) had their best scoring chances, yet couldn't cash in against Art U (3-9-1/2-6-1). Kolby Mitnick created one by eluding an Urban Knights double-team and dribbling through seam in the defense. The ball wound up back on his left foot but his shot was stopped and a rebound shot by Pedro Guevara was saved. Following a free kick by Swap Mushiana, Dominican kept attacking and David Mendez had the ball on his left foot and Academy of Art goalkeeper Carson Condon pulled out of the goalmouth, but his left foot strike at a tough angle went high and wide of the open net.

The Penguins outshot the Urban Knights 13-10 in the game, 8-3 in the second half against a fierce wind. Mendez and Mushiana both had four shots and Guevara, who is third in shots and tied for third in goals in the PacWest, had two shots, but the Penguins couldn't penetrate Art U's defense enough to get clean shots on goal.

“I thought they had a good game plan and they obviously had low pressure and kept 11 players behind the ball,” said Dominican Director of Soccer Jonathan Delano. “I thought we created enough opportunities. I thought we were sharp in the second half after a lackluster start.”

The first half was frustrating for Dominican. The Urban Knights had four shots in the first 10 minutes against the slow-starting Penguins: One found the back of the net and another two were headed that way if not for a block by freshman center back Chris Sennes and a save by Erik Anderson. Academy of Art's goal came off a cross by Aron Ekberg that Anderson could not save or punch out of the goal mouth. It wound up on the right foot of an unmarked Chava Sanchez, who booted it into the goal

Dominican had several excellent scoring opportunities in the opening 45 minutes, yet couldn't capitalize. A corner kick – one of five in the first half by the Penguins – by Guevara was headed over the net by Mushiana but the Penguins' best chance came during a nearly three-minute stretch after the Urban Knights' Andrew Durano came off the field to attend to a bloody nose while his teammates played a man down. Midfielder Sam Vella set up teammate Nuri Bon-Acosta with a through ball, but as Bon-Acosta shot it, Condon smothered it a second later.

That was one of five shots Dominican launched, before the Urban Knights recorded the last three of the half, including a long shot by Sanchez that a leaping Anderson deflected over the cross bar. Anderson, who is second in PacWest in saves per game (6.50) and third in saves percentage (.780), recorded three saves.

 “I thought our attacking play was pretty good. Unfortunately we just couldn't get it done today,” said Delano. “Credit to them. Art U had their game plan and they came in and stuck to it and found the resolve. I could tell our guys were frustrated. That's a good sign in the sense that they think this is one game [win] they should have had.”

On Saturday, the Penguins will meet California Baptist University in a 12:30 p.m. contest at Kennelly Field in the John F. Allen Athletics Complex during Convocation 2012/Dominican Family Weekend. Both Dominican soccer teams will "Kick Out Breast Cancer" by wearing pink jerseys that will be auctioned off, with a portion of the proceeds going to Marin General Hospital Foundation. All fans are encouraged to wear pink to the games in support of breast cancer research. Learn more about Dominican's "Kick Out Breast Cancer" initiative here. Live coverage will also be available at www.dominicanathletics.com/live.