WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Dominican women's soccer was lifted by several big second half plays to a 1-0 victory over Hawai'i Pacific late Thursday night at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
 
The Sharks (1-3-0, 0-2-0 PacWest) had more shots (10) and shots on goal (8) but the Penguins (4-4-1, 1-2-0 PacWest) made the most of their seven shots with six on frame. Natalie Haro was brilliant in her second solo shutout of the season making eight saves to move her record as started to 4-3-1.
 
Ysabella Belandres had the first prime scoring opportunity of the game in the 29th minute as she weaved around two HPU defenders into the box and tried to beat the keeper towards the backpost but Lolo Retsky made the save. Carmi Dotario tried a tough angle shot for Dominican in the 38th minute but Retsky positioned herself well near the right post to make the save. The Penguin defense did an excellent job of limiting the Sharks to shots from a distance and the game remained scoreless at the half.
 
After the teams started slow to the second half, Dotario entered and injected some fresh legs for Dominican. Dotario made a breakaway out of a counterattack in the 74th minute splitting two defenders in the midfield and then held them off to toe poke the ball past the keeper for the 1-0 lead. The intensity picked up and the Penguins looked like they would extend their lead minutes later but an offside call wiped the goal off the board.
 
HPU made a furious push for the equalizer in the final five minutes sending a lot of pressure and drawing several fouls to set up dangerous set pieces, but Haro made two outstanding saves to preserve her victory.
 
Dominican will have its second showdown with a ranked opponent in as many weeks as it travels to face No. 25 University of Hawai'i at Hilo at 3 p.m. HST Sunday at UHH Soccer Field.