SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Junior midfielder Brian Sanchez recorded the first brace of his NCAA Division II career to lead Dominican men's soccer to a 2-1 victory Tuesday afternoon over Holy Names at Kennelly Field.

The Penguins' (1-2) backline played brilliantly limiting Holy Names to two shots on goal, one of which came on a penalty kick for the Hawks (1-1). Dominican used a strong advantage in possession time in the second half to record seven shots on goal led by two from freshman Jacob Sieber. Sophomore goal keeper Alejandro Reyes recorded the first victory of his young Penguin career with one save in 90 minutes played.

"We executed the things we talked about at halftime better than we have all season," head coach David Frank said. "The first half wasn't clean, it wasn't sharp — it was choppy. At the half we said, "we did some of the things well, now here are the next steps," and we came out in the second half and we did it, then we earned the two penalties and won the game."

The first half was largely uneventful until the final three minutes as Sebastian Quiroz sent a shot on frame for HNU, but Reyes was there to make the save in the 43rd minute. Dominican countered quickly as Sieber freed himself from the defense and sent a shot on frame, but the Hawks' Robby Rosas was there to make the save and send the game into the half tied 0-0.

In the 68th minute the Penguins threatened the Hawks as sophomore midfielder Cole Porter crossed a ball to senior forward Ivan Galvan who put the ball on frame, but Rosas was there to bat the ball away. Porter picked up the ball and tried to make a move but a HNU handball stopped the play and gave Dominican the penalty kick. Sanchez took it and put it in the top-right corner of the net to make it 1-0.

"He's a guy that is a freshman, essentially. He had a knee injury that forced him to redshirt last year. These are his first college games and he came off the bench and provided energy and a spark," coach Frank said. "His energy, passion, power and positivity created chances. That's what we need from our team, especially our young players."

Two minutes later Porter again was pressing and was fouled in the box on an attempt to control a ball sent over the top of the defense. Sanchez stepped to the spot again and once again found the back of the net for the 2-0 lead.

"At practice, as a team, we empathize high pressure," Porter said. "I remember pressing the center back, that's my job. I got the go from all my teammates to high press. Everyone said, "Go! Go! Go!,"  and I felt the need to step up to the center back. He took a quick touch and I poked it away from him, then there was the handball that lead to the penalty kick. Our coaches talk about how we want to be a high pressing team, and we have the guys on this team to carry that out."

The physical play picked up in the final 15 minutes of the game as each team picked up a yellow card and Holy Names was fouled in the box to set up a penalty kick of their own. Pablo Ramirez took the shot and put it just out of reach of Reyes who dove to his left to make it 2-1 in the 85th minute. 

Dominican's back line locked down the Hawks' offense for the final four minutes allowing only one corner and no shots to give the Penguins their first victory of the season.

Dominican will return to the pitch to take on Academy of Art on Sunday at a time yet to be determined. Updates will be made to the Dominican men's soccer schedule as soon as they are available.