Box Score ALAMOSA, Colo. — The return of sophomore Jake Bernstein to the Dominican University of California lineup provided a high in the Rocky Mountain state on Friday.

Bernstein, who missed the last five games due to injury, had two goals and an assist in the opening period and classmate Kevin Powers recorded his first hat trick of the season as the Penguins jumped to an early 6-1 lead en route to a 12-4 victory over Adams State. The win, the third in a row by Dominican, kept the Penguins (5-4/3-0) in first place in the Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association with a showdown looming on Sunday, March 7 in Grand Junction against Colorado Mesa University.

“Having Jake back is a big boost for us all over the field,” said Head Coach Ned Webster. “He is a shot of adrenaline for our team.”

The Penguins had seven different players score goals and seven record assists against Adams State (1-6/0-2). Jake Fritz and Cody Bernstein, Jake's younger brother, had two assists apiece while freshman Grant Clifford and senior Cam Evangelho both tallied two goals for Dominican including Evangelho's team-leading eighth man-up goal this season. The Penguins came into the game leading the nation in NCAA Division II in man-up offense scoring percentage (.514).

Offensively, Dominican was sparked by Dylan Acevedo (team-bet six ground balls) and Blake Crossman, who combined to win 13 of 20 face-off games in the game.

“Once we had the ball on offense, I felt we moved it well and took quality shots,” Webster said.

Defensively, led by goalie Sean Donohue's six saves, the Penguins' limited Adams State's Seth Sowell, the WILA's leading scorer, to no goals and five shots.

“To give up [only] four goals to an athletic team like Adams State is an accomplishment for Coach Christopher Dean and our defense,” Webster said.

The Penguins seized control of the game from the outset, scoring four unanswered goals in a three-minute span in the first period when they took 14 of the first 17 shots in the contest.

The Grizzles momentarily rallied in the second period and, after three consecutive turnovers against the team that leads the nation in caused turnovers, Webster called timeout following an Adams State illegal crosse penalty. Dominican responded by scoring two straight man-up goals by Evangelho and Powers, who is only Penguins player this season to notch at least one point in every game.

Powers now has 10 goals on the season, one of five Dominican players with double-digit goals. He joins Evangelho, Fritz and Cody Bernstein, who share the team lead with 15 goals apiece, and Clifford who has 14. Cody Bernstein tops the Penguins in assists with 15 and points with 30.