SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican men's soccer could not hold on to a late lead conceding a 2-2 tie to Fresno Pacific on Thursday afternoon at Kennelly Field.
In the ninth minute,
Lex Bernier took a ball down the left side pushed it past a closing defender to keep his run going before crossing the ball across the entire box to
Chris Mendez-Lemus on the right side of the box for a shot near post, but Sergio Sierra was there to make the save for the Sunbirds. Lucas Ribiero was able to get free on the right side of the box for FPU in the 16th minute and took a strong shot towards the far post, but
Alejandro Reyes made a diving save to keep his net clean.
Nico Flores and
Cole Porter executed a crafty combination play that set Porter up at the top of the box with some space, but Sierra was in the right spot to make the save in the 30th minute. Another combination play setup
Jesus Duran in the 39th minute from 20-yards out but once again Sierra was in the right spot to make the stop for FPU. Dominican finally broke the stalemate in the 44th minute as
Dimani Mathlin threw a ball in from the sideline that was headed on to
Jesus Duran in the middle of the box who took a touch before firing a ball past the keeper and into the net for his second goal of the season and the 1-0 lead at the break.
Diego Grande had a wide-open opportunity in the 55th minute as a cross found him all alone in the center of the box but Sierra was able to get just enough on the shot attempt to prevent the goal and allow his defense to recover and clear. Bernier once again made a brilliant run down the left side in the 59th minute, playing himself past a defender and into the box before crossing the ball back to Grande in the middle of the box and this time Grande's shot gave Sierra no chance as the Penguins took the 2-0 lead.
Bernier had a chance of his own in the 68th minute as he dribbled past a defender before loosing a shot that deflected off the cross bar and back to Mendez-Lemus who tried to go high-center with a shot but Sierra recovered to make the save. The Sunbirds got one back in the 78th minute as Chris Macias took a pass along the right side, side stepped a defender and curled a shot inside the far post to make it 2-1. Ribeiro had a chance at the tie in the 84th minute as he headed a ball towards the far post, but Reyes made the diving save to preserve his lead.
Ribeiro made the most of his next chance as he deflected in a cross from Taran Williams right in front of goal to tie the game in the 87th minute. Manuel Martinez Anguiano had the chance to give FPU a lead one minute later as he took on Reyes one-on-one but Reyes won the matchup to preserve a tie for his team.
