Box Score SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Aiming for an early-season upset and their best start since the 1996 season, the Dominican University of California men's soccer battled Azusa Pacific University to a near draw for about 75 minutes on Saturday at Kennelly Field in the John F. Allen Athletics Complex.

But, the visiting Cougars, picked in a preseason coaches' poll to finish third this year in their inaugural season in the Pacific West Conference, scored three goals in the span of 2:30 late in the second half to wrestle control of the game with 4-0 lead en route to handing and the Penguins a 5-0 defeat.

“They were better on the day, but we were right there. What was it? One-zero, 75th minute,” said Dominican Director of Soccer Jon Delano. “We got caught out trying to go forward and equalize the game but we've got to better defensively not to give up goals like that late in the game.”

Oktay Bulut, a junior from Ruesselsheim, Germany, scored the game's first goal and its last and assisted on the middle goal when the Cougars (1-1-0/3-2-1) broke it open. They launched 26 shots and Penguins sophomore goalkeeper Erik Anderson made 11 saves, several of them spectacular, which kept the score close deep into the second half and prevented it from being more of a rout.

“Even though Erik gave up five goals I thought he was fantastic,” said Delano.

The Penguins (0-1, 3-1), picked to finish 12th in the PacWest this season the coaches' preseason poll, had their chances offensively to produce a much different result, particularly in the first half.

Dominican had a couple of excellent chances to take the lead and another great scoring opportunity to tie it. Near the midpoint mark of the first half, David Mendez's brilliant header at midfield was a perfect pass to Kolby Mitnick, who burst in on goalkeeper Joe Geletko, the only senior in Azusa Pacific's starting lineup. But Mitnick's shot was tipped wide. Second later, Nuri Bon-Acosta created a scoring chance for Swap Mushiana, but his shot went wide left.
Yet Azusa Pacific left the field at halftime with a 1-0 lead.

“I think we were too low pressure in the first half,” Delano said. “We didn't apply enough pressure.”

In the second half, the Cougars dominated the first 12 minutes but Anderson kept them out of the net then the momentum shifted. Bon-Acosta sparked the Penguins with some aggressive play near the team's sideline and that led to a shot by Mitnick that was deflected wide left. A minute later, with the score still 1-0, Mushiana played a great long ball that Mitnick chased down before Geletko could grab it. But Azusa Pacific defender Garrett Mehgrguth alertly bumped Mitnick off the ball to prevent the speedy Penguin forward from shooting at an open net and tieing the game.

“The loss was not for lack of chances, but they were not as clinical as they had been,” said Delano, whose team outscored its foes 12-1 in its season-opening three-game winning streak. “They were better on the day unfortunately and we've got to find a way to get better. It's important that we regroup quickly and we will.”

Dominican is back on Kennelly Field at the John F. Allen Athletics Complex on Monday, Sept. 17 to play PacWest rival Dixie State College. Game time is 1:30 p.m. with live coverage available at www.dominicanathletics.com/live.

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