AZUSA, Calif. – Dominican women's soccer held the lead for the majority of the match but a seven minute stretch near the end of the game gave Azusa Pacifc the 2-1 victory Saturday night at Cougar Soccer Complex.

Alejandra Melendez scored her team-leading fourth goal as she took a ball in the 21st minute at off a pass from Tanya Bills before working her way into some space and sending a left-footed rocket from 20-yards out over the keeper's head and into the back netting for the 1-0 lead. Bethany Tee nearly tied the game in the 26th minute but the Penguins backline was in position to make a save on the empty net and Rylee Buesing added two more saves in the half to take the 1-0 lead into the second half.

Dominican continued to frustrate the Cougars until Tee found the breakthrough goal in the 78th minute as she sent a corner kick curling inside the far post for the 1-1 tie. In the 84th minute legs got tangled in the box and the officials awarded a penalty kick to APU with Tee putting it inside the right post for the 2-1 lead and they held the Penguins without a shot over the final five minutes of the half to secure the victory.

Dominican will finish its road trip in Southern California on Monday as it faces off with Concordia University Irvine at 1:30 p.m. PDT at Golden Eagles Field.