SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – The ball did not bounce the way of Dominican men's soccer in a 3-1 loss to Cal State East Bay on Thursday at Kennelly Field.

The Penguins (0-1-0) doubled the Pioneers (1-0-0) in shots with 20 with seven on frame while earning 12 corners to one for CSUEB, but they could not get the ball past the goal line. 

Aaron Farnan got the Pioneers on the board early as Tim Cerjak caused a turnover kicking the loose ball to Farnan who kept a defender on his hip and shot far post for the 1-0 lead within the first minute of the game. Dominican responded as Brian Diaz used his body to deflect a clearance attempt by the CSUEB defense and it fell to the feet of Lex Bernier who beat the defender and then took on the keeper 1-on-1 beating him with a chip to the far post to level the game in the fifth minute.

Moments later Chris Barrios looked like he would give Dominican the lead as he beat the keeper to a ball by inches and poked it towards the bottom right corner but a Pioneer defender came back and cleared the ball inches in front of the goal line in the seventh minute. CSUEB continued to chip away and Julian Valle headed a ball in the box down to the feet of Farnan who got off a quick shot for the 2-1 lead in the 32nd minute. Cole Porter looked to answer in the 43rd minute as he beat a defender and sent a shot towards the frame but it hit the left post as the Penguins entered the half trailing by one.

Dominican once again had a prime chance in the 54th minute as Elias Muro sent a ball screaming towards the goal but he hit the right woodwork and the rebound bounced back to Barrios who sent a shot back on net but Adan Corona made the save. The Pioneers would go on to add to its lead in the 78th minute as a long ball by Cerjak took a high hop over the head of the keeper and into the back netting for the 3-1 lead.

Dominican will return to the pitch Saturday as it hosts Cal Poly Humboldt at 11 a.m. PDT at Kennelly Field.