SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican women's soccer fell 2-0 Wednesday afternoon to UC Santa Cruz at Kennelly Field.
Carmi Dotario provided a couple of opportunities for the Penguins early as she found some success down the left side of the field with the best chance coming in the 16th minute as she moved to the top of the box but her right-footed shot was gathered in by Ainsley Gove. The Banana Slugs took the lead in the 17th minute as a corner kick was cleared by a defenders head but only as far as the foot of Camille Anneet who slotted the ball home for the 1-0 advantage.
The offenses slowed down until
Araceli Mejia brought some fresh legs onto the left wing and maneuvered her way for an open shot from the left-side of the box and whipped in a shot on frame but Gove was there once again for the save running towards her near post. Amaya Espardinez gathered in a turnover in the UCSC attacking third of the field and had an open look at the goal in the 42nd minute, but her attempt sailed high of the bar and the Banana Slugs entered the break with the slim lead.
In the 48th minute, Dotario took a ball down the right side and crossed a ball to
Ashlyn Hill at the near post but her redirect attempt went wide. One minute later Sydney Boyd played a ball ahead to Amanda Scott along the right wing and she crossed the ball to Tatiana Fernandez who put a shot high into the back of the net for the Banana Slugs and the 2-0 lead.
Dominican continued to search for a goal as
Felicity Muro loosed a curling low shot from a distance in the 65th minute, but Gove tracked it well to cover it up before it could cross the line.
Megan Clapinski put another shot on frame in the 68th minute trying to beat the Gove to her right but Gove made the save to keep her net clean. Clapinski had one more chance to cut into the lead as she took a ball down the middle of the field in the 88th minute beating her defender and facing Gove alone. Clapinski took a shot towards the left post but Gove was able to get her fingertips on the ball to steer it wide and preserve the shutout.
The Penguins will return to their conference schedule Saturday as they take on Jessup in a rematch of the season opener at 3:30 p.m. PDT at Kennelly Field.
