HAYWARD, Calif. – Dominican men's soccer opened its 2021 campaign with a 1-1 tie Thursday night with Cal State East Bay at Pioneer Stadium. 

The Penguins dominated play for much of the game as they finished with 31 shots with 17 on goal while holding the Pioneers to seven shots with five on frame. 

CSUEB got off to a quick start as it earned a corner kick and Josh Gaekle got a shot on goal in the first minute of the game, but junior goalkeeper Sam Prusynski was there to make the save for Dominican. The Penguins countered four minutes later as freshman midfielder Diego Grande sent a ball toward the lower-right-90, but Kelekolio Mateo Jr. made the save for the Pioneers.

Senior midfielders Roberto Garcia and Cameron Baca then loosed a pair of shots within 30 seconds of each other in the 21st minute, but once again Mateo was there to make the save. The Penguins had five more shots on frame over the next 15 minutes as they maintained possession deep in Pioneer territory. Freshman midfielder Alexandre Bernier broke through in the 35th minute as he sent a ball into the bottom right corner for the 1-0 lead. CSUEB quickly responded as Aaron Farnan found Miles Ramos on the center of the box and he put away the equalizer moments later as the half ended in a 1-1 tie.

The second half and first overtime period were much the same as Dominican put eight more shots on Mateo, but were unable to find the game-winner. As the Penguins wore down, the Pioneers found some openings at the end of the second overtime as Gaekle and Mateo Didomenico tested Prusynski in the 108th and 109th minutes, but Prusynski made the saves to preserve the point for the Penguins.

Dominican will return to the pitch Tuesday for its home opener against UC Santa Cruz at 3 p.m. PDT at Kennelly Field.