HILO, Hawai'i – Dominican men's soccer completed its Hawaiian road trip with a 1-0 victory over University of Hawai'i at Hilo on Sunday afternoon at UHH Soccer Field.
 
The Penguins (5-4-1, 2-2-0 PacWest) had more dangerous opportunities despite being outshot 13-9 by the Vulcans (6-3-0, 1-2-0 PacWest). Alejandro Reyes made four saves on the day to record his fourth shutout of the season. Lex Bernier scored his fourth goal of his season and had three shots on frame to lead Dominican.
 
Bernier created some offense early as in the 12th minute he outraced a defender to a ball and created a 3-on-2 breakaway. Bernier crossed the ball to Patrick Zamora Salazar who was the trailing runner and Zamora Salazar took a one-time shot inches wide of the left post. Bernier again made a play in the 18th minute cutting out a pass with his outstretched left leg, pushing it forward to himself and then taking a left footed shot off the left post and into the back of the net for the 1-0 Dominican lead.
 
Reyes and the Penguin defense were proactive in limiting the opportunities by the Vulcans. Takato Awai was able to get a head to a cross in the 37th minute but Reyes made the diving save in front of his left post. The other prime chance for UHH came in the 44th minute as a foul gave Shudai Ito a free kick two feet above the top of the box but the attempt went high and Dominican took a lead into the break.
 
Kanata Taira was able to get off an early chance for the Vulcans in the second half as he cut inside the left side of the box and sent the ball near post but Reyes was there to the ball off and the follow up shot by Gabriel Gallardo was also saved by Reyes in the 48th minute. Reyes put a perfect ball over the top in the 54th minute to Lex Bernier who made a move past one defender in the corner of the box but his shot attempt curled too much to the awaiting arms of Christian Souza in the center of the box. Diego Grande added a point-blank opportunity in the 58th minute but Souza was able to get his hands up just in time to deflect the shot wide.
 
The game settled in and chances were limited until the 84th minute when Bernier drove to the top of the box and ripped a shot to the high center and Souza was able to just push it above his bar to keep the Vulcans close. UHH got several dangerous free kicks over the final five minutes but were unable to put anything on frame as Dominican held on for the victory.
 
Dominican returns home to face Biola for its Breast Cancer Awareness game Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PDT at Kennelly Field.