Box Score SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Senior Pedro Guevara scored two goals and sophomore Kolby Mitnick contributed a goal and an assist on Thursday as the Dominican University of California men's soccer team defeated a veteran Northwest Nazarene squad 3-1 at Kennelly Field in the John F. Allen Athletics Complex.

The victory, Dominican's second in as many outings, gives the Penguins their best start since the 2004 season when they were members of the NAIA's California Pacific Conference.

“That almost dates back to my playing days,” joked Dominican Director of Soccer Jon Delano. “That's a long time ago.”

Guevara, named earlier in the day to the Preseason All-PacWest Men's Soccer Team, tallied the game's first goal about 10 minutes into the non-conference contest and Dominican's back four defenders – particularly sophomore center back Cory Vanderpool and freshman Chris Sennes – made sure it stood up for goalkeeper Erik Anderson who recorded more saves than Crusaders' goalie Alfredo Ontiveros, the junior college National Player of the Year last season for undefeated national JC champion Mt. San Antonio College. The Penguins scored three goals against NNU (0-2-1) and Ontiveros who allowed only 11 goals all last season.

“I was really pleased with our performance,” said Delano. “I think for 15-20 minutes in the first half we weren't very sharp, especially after the first goal. In the second half we controlled the majority of the ball. We were on top of it. The points we talked about at halftime we executed.”

Mitnick scored the game's second goal about eight minutes in the second half on a perfectly-placed pass by Swap Mushiana from midfield. Mitnick sped behind the Crusaders' defense and beat Ontiveros.

The Penguins extended the lead to 3-0 with about 31 minutes left in the game when Guevara scored on a penalty kick – his fourth goal of the year – following a yellow card assessed to NNU's Stephen Marshall for taking down David Mendez in the box.

Guevara's first goal was a beauty. He dribbled left and blasted a left foot shot that tucked in the upper net inside the far post. The goal was set up by Mitnick, who spun past a pair of Crusader players and penetrated the NNU defense.

Mitnick came inches from extending the Penguins' lead but Ontiveros denied him. Mitnick took a chip pass from Guevara and bore in on Ontiveros. He aimed a shot at the far post and it was destined to roll into the goal but Ontiveros, on the ground, flashed out his right hand and directed the shot wide of the net.

Ontiveros  also robbed Mendez of a goal with under six minutes remaining in the opening half. Mushiana jumped on a ball that deflected off the referee and fed Mendez with a long pass down the middle of the field. Mendez broke free, but Ontiveros made the save.

“He made two saves in the first half that were fantastic. I thought both were goals,” Delano said. “Make no bones about it. That's a good team.”

The Crusaders, an NCAA Div. II team out of Idaho and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, tested Anderson with 13 shots.  He had a busy first half, yet needed to make only one difficult save. He rushed out of the net to block a quick shot by NNU's Emerson Peredo, one of nine upperclassmen in the Crusaders' starting lineup.

The only goal allowed by Anderson was a penalty kick by Marshall with 1:18 remaining the game following a handball call in the box.

The Penguins' non-conference schedule continues on Tuesday, Sept. 11 when they host William Jessup University (NAIA). Game time is 4:30 p.m. at Kennelly Field. LIve stats will be available online at www.dominicanathletics.com/live for fans unable to attend.

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