Santa Clara, CALIF. --   Dominican University of California (9-0) downed conference foe Santa Clara (3-9) in Santa Clara on Sunday. With the win, Dominican moved one step closer to playoffs and a divisional title while extending their win streak to nine straight.  
 
The offense was on settled in early as graduate student Brielle Rapsas, freshman Siena Fairbanks and freshman Olivia Johnson all had four goals while adding seven combined assists, all of which helped Dominican jump out to an early 5-0 lead that kept the momentum rolling.  
 
"It was super exciting to be part of a team win like this one," Rapsas said. "We played together and set each other up for success. The team offense is something we've been working on a lot in practice, and it felt so calm, collected and natural during the game."
 
The Penguins continued offensive success into the second quarter, adding eight additional goals that brought the score to 13-0 going into half time. Freshmen Taylor Pieri and Morgan Newkirk added two goals each in the offensive onslaught while Pieri's effort also led to a highlight reel goal as she snatched the ball from the goalie in midair, where she would find a wide open Rapsas in the crease whose shot was uncontested. 
 
The defense was anchored by freshman Jordyn Dangerfield, sophomore America Vizcaino and freshman Addecca Day-Lewis. Day and Dangerfield provided physical one-on-one defense making Santa Clara's offense adjust to Dominican's style of play. The unit displayed great communication throughout the entire game as Morgan Dougherty also continued her role, dominating on draws and transition adding her fifth goal of the season, three draw controls and three ground balls.  Freshman Natalie Oyler was flawless on the backend in the first half with six Saves, zero goals against and zero turnovers in the first half. Freshman Katherine Chavez would take the reins from Oyler in the 2^nd half and add seven saves of her own. 
 
Santa Clara made a second half push and add a short run of their own bringing the score to 14-5 after three quarters of play, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Dominican reverted back to its dominant play in the final frame, going on another 5-1 run highlighted by an 8-meter laser ripped by Johnson before the horn sounded to alert the onlookers of the of Dominican's 18-6 win. With the win, the Penguins crushed Santa Clara's hopes of repeating a Divisional Championship. 
 
"Divisional games always mean a little more. They knew their assignments and executed. We had a lot of players step up today, it's nice to know we have that kind of depth as we 'march' into the playoff stretch," head coach Joseph Manna said.
 
Dominican will play Saint Mary's in its final home game this Sunday and will finish the regular season on the road against Cal Berkley April 7^th in Memorial Stadium. A win in either of these games will result in Dominican Clinching its first ever WWLL North Division championship.