ATHERTON, Calif. – Nico Flores led Dominican men's soccer back to a 2-2 tie against Menlo after falling behind by two goals in the first half Thursday afternoon at Wunderlich Field.

Roy Rosenberg drove up the left side and sent a through ball to Mattia Celant in the center of the box with his first shot saved by Nylmar Gonzalez De Leon but the ball bounced back to Celant who chipped it in for the 1-0 lead in the 16th minute. The Oaks added to their lead in the 32nd minute as a low corner kick from Levin Ledergerber found Antonio Jimenez who bodied the ball and put a shot high off the bounce to take the 2-0 lead.

After only one shot in the first half, Dominican had three in the first eight minutes of the second half. Flores was the first to cash in as a clearance attempt found his feet in the midfield and he took the open space to the top of the box before shooting from the top of the box and curling around a center back and inside the far post to cut the deficit in half in the 54th minute.

Dominican continued to apply the offensive pressure and Christopher Barrios nearly sank the equalizer in the 71st minute as a loose ball fell to him 20-yards out and he put a shot high that glanced off the crossbar. Dimani Mathlin drew a foul to setup a free kick from 25 yards out in the 76th minute and Flores took it sending the ball over the wall and dipping beneath the crossbar into the near side of the net to tie the game 2-2.

Isak Haukefier was able to create an opportunity on the counter for Menlo as he put a perfect through ball forward to Jimenez who took a first touch shot towards the back post but Gonzalez De Leon made the save diving to his right to keep the game even. Diego Garcia Ocampo tried to put the Penguins ahead in the 84th minute as he raced through the middle of the field to the top of the box and put a shot high but Jo Krumsvik got a hand on it to keep it out of his net. Haukefier had one last chance as he caught the defense sleeping in the 87th minute taking a ball and taking on De Leon one-on-one but De Leon closed the angle and made the save to preserve the tie.

Dominican will return to conference play Saturday, October 21 as it takes on Academy of Art at noon PDT at Kennelly Field.