SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – Dominican women's soccer rode a brace by Carmi Dotario to a 2-0 victory Wednesday afternoon over UC Santa Cruz at the UCSC Soccer Complex.

The Penguins (4-8-1) finished with 10 shots with four on goal while Natalie Haro made four saves to earn the shutout.

UCSC got off to a strong start with early pressure and Camille Anneet had a strong shot on goal but Natalie Haro was able to push it out of bounds and then collected the ensuing cross on a corner kick to keep her net clean. Dominican tightened up its defense and controlled the pace of play and possession for much of the next 10 minutes of play. Payton Zanatta made a strong run down the left side in the ninth minute and had a great shot from a shallow angle toward the back post but Amelia Brown made a leaping save for the Banana Slugs to prevent the goal.

Neither team was able to get much going in the final third for the remainder of the half until Carmi Dotario took a ball, made one move to beat her defender and then fired a shot into the lower-right corner to give Dominican a 1-0 lead with 58 seconds remaining on the clock.

UCSC nearly tied the game in the 49th minute as Anneet found some room and sent a shot towards goal but it deflected off the crossbar and out of bounds. Dotario then added to her goal tally as she sent a looping, curling shot from 20-yards out inside the lower-left corner to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead in the 66th minute. 

The Banana Slugs desperately tried to cut into the lead in the final 10 minutes as Amanda Scott sent a high shot in from distance but Haro was able to make the save in the 85th minute. A Banana Slug's corner kick in the 89th minute bounced around the box and to the foot of Chelyn Ackerman who went far post on her attempt but Haro made a diving save to her right to preserve the shutout.

Dominican will return to its conference schedule Saturday as it hosts Academy of Art for its Senior Day with kickoff set for 3 p.m. PDT at Kennelly Field.