SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican women's soccer tied 1-1 Monday afternoon with Hawai'i Pacific to open Pacific West Conference play at Kennelly Field.
The Penguins (3-4-1, 0-0-1 PacWest) more than doubled the Sharks (0-4-2, 0-0-1 PacWest) in shots (13-6) and shots on goal (7-3) but they were unable to find the back netting.
Alejandra Melendez scored for the second consecutive game and for the third time on the season to lead the Penguins while
Rylee Buesing made two saves in goal to preserve the tie.
A quick counter from HPU got Carissa Miller into the box where she was able to save a ball from going past the back line then preserved possession with a slide tackle that put the ball at the feet of Kayla Fraser who tapped the ball inside the near post for the 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.
Alejandra Melendez looked to tie the game on a shot off a free kick as she put a ball high on frame, but Sophia Garrido leapt to make the save and preserve her lead in the 19th minute.
Melendez did not miss her second chance as Tanya Bill dribbled down the end line into the box and put a ball back to Melendez in the middle who stuck out her foot and redirected the ball past the keeper to tie the match 1-1 in the 24th minute. It was all Dominican down the stretch as they put three more shots on goal, the best coming off the right foot of
Tanya Bills who aimed towards the back post but Garrido was there to make a diving save to send the game tied into the half.
Despite the Penguins dominating possession in the second half, Mehana Ortiz had a solid scoring chance for the sharks in the 70th minute as she sent a ball speeding towards upper right 90 but Buesing was there to push the ball over the crossbar and preserve the tie. The Penguins best chance to end the tie in the second half came with seconds remaining on the clock as
Eryn Tufts made a run from her center back position to get behind the defense, deked past one last defender and put a ball towards the top right corner but her shot curled inches wide and the game ended in a tie.
Dominican will return to the field on Thursday to take on No. 8 University of Hawai'i at Hilo beginning at 3 p.m. at Kennelly Field.
