Box Score SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — The new-look Dominican University of California women's soccer team shook off first-game jitters in the second half of its season opener but a first-half Cal Poly Pomona goal was the difference on Thursday in a 1-0 loss.

The Broncos launched 11 shots, eight on goal, while Dominican was limited to two shots, and just one on goal by Jessica Ramirez five minutes into the second half. The junior forward's shot was saved and resulted in a corner kick, though Dominican was unable to convert on the set piece, or two others in the game.

Allie Maxwell came off the bench to produced three shots, two on goal, for Cal Poly Pomona while last year's CCAA Freshman of the Year, Megan Kisslan, placed two shots on goal for the Cal Poly Pomona. Broncos reserve Aleesa Gonzalez scored the game-winner on a scramble in front of the net in the 40th minute. The ball rolled loose in the box and blocked by a Dominican defender. The Penguins failed to clear the ball though, which rolled to the feet of the freshman, who put it in from the right side past Megan Herring.

Herring, who led NCAA Division II in save percentage last season (.910), stopped the seven other balls booted her direction.

The Penguins controlled the ball more in the second half and made several runs late in the game but aggressive goalkeeping by the Broncos' Sarah Rohman prevented Dominican from getting off shots. Dominican had a good look in the final two minutes that saw Sarah Pimentel get open in the box but Rohman was again there to break it up. Dominican had the first shot of the game, a Carrie Freyer shot that went wide in the eighth minute.

While it wasn't the result new Dominican Head Coach Tara Koleski was looking for, she found positives to take away from the contest.

"It was the tale of two halves and as an opening match, obviously not having played your starters together at 45 minutes at a time exposed some of our weaknesses and we also saw in the second half some of our strengths," said Koleski. "Our fitness is good but getting those nerves out in the first half was important for us and the second half built our confidence for moving forward."

Dominican is back on the pitch on Saturday, Sept. 7 in the first game of a doubleheader. The Dominican women face Northwest Nazarene at 2:00 p.m., followed by the men's season opener versus Cal Poly Pomona at 4:30 p.m. Live coverage for both games and throughout the season is available at dominicanathletics.com/live.