San Rafael, Calif. — First half goals from senior
Katie Bianchi and freshman
Alejandra Melendez proved to be enough as Dominican University of California secured a victory over the Academy of Art University.
The Penguins pressed early as Bianchi's goal came in just the 12th minute of the opening half. After a senior
Abbie Gould juked a defender, she sent a pass over to Bianchi who quickly headed the ball to the back of the net, giving Dominican an early lead.
Dominican's attack found the board again 10 minutes later after a
Claire Brown sent a pass into the box that
Katie Bianchi shot, but the ball was blocked by an ART U defender. Melendez found the ball at her feet on the rebound and quickly steered the ball towards the back of the goal, doubling the Dominican lead.
The Penguins spent much of the first half on the offensive side of the field, tallying seven shots in the first half, testing the Urban Knight goalkeeper three times, while the Academy of Art was unable to find the target in the first stanza.
Senior goalkeeper
Jaqueline Catano made her first save of the game for Dominican just two minutes into the second frame when Avica Robings sent a shot on goal for the Urban Knights. Eight minutes later, Dominican returned the favor, this time in the form of a
Cassidy Marquez blast that was met by Dru Keizer for the Urban Knights, keeping the game at 2-0.
The Urban Knights' best chance came in the 61st minute when Dominican narrowly avoided having its lead cut in half after Alyssa Rasmussen sent a blast off the right woodwork from just outside the box. Dominican peppered the Urban Knights' keeper throughout the final 20 minutes of the half, forcing her to make four saves as sophomore
Danielle Gonzalez, junior Eryn and sophomore
Jackie Lancaster all tallied shots on target before the final horn solidified Dominican's 2-0 victory.
Catano and senior
Nicole Maler combined for a clean sheet for the Penguins, while Brown, Melendez, Bianchi and Gonzalez lead Dominican with two shots apiece.
Dominican will end its regular season schedule on Saturday, Nov. 13, when it visits Holy Names University in Hayward, California.
