SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Joe Blakely and Patrick Zamora Salazar connected on a pair of first half goals to lead Dominican men's soccer over Metro State University of Denver 2-0 Thursday afternoon at Kennelly Field.
 
After the teams spent 15 minutes feeling each other out and looking for ways to attack, the Roadrunners (1-2-0) were able to play Noah Hannula down the left side and he slipped his way to a good angle but Reyes was in the right spot to make the save for the Penguins (3-0-0). Dominican then found some success as Thomas Van Schoor and Lex Bernier each found space inside the box for a pair of shots in the 18th and 21st minutes but Nick McNeil made a pair of brilliant saves for MSUD.
 
Dominican made a several subs in the 25th minute of the up tempo game and the fresh legs paid off as Zamora Salazar sent a ball screaming at McNeil and he was just able to parry it into the air but it fell right to the foot of Blakely who buried the rebound for the 1-0 lead in the 27th minute. Matt Vogel looked to respond quickly for the Roadrunners getting inside the left side of the box and taking a tough angle shot towards the far post but it trickled wide of the frame.
 
With seconds remaining in the half, Cole Porter made a good run down the right side and sent a ball into the box that got jumbled among several feet but Blakely was able to poke the ball to his right to a waiting Zamora Salazar and he buried the shot in the open netting for the 2-0 lead at the break.
 
Dominican continued to press early in the second half as Bernier, Van Schoor and Jake Kazlauskas all had excellent chances to increase the lead, but McNeil stood strong to keep his team in the game. Metro State was able to control the pace for the next 20 minutes but the Penguins back line proved difficult to crack and Reyes made a diving save to his left on a shot from Joey Kresnik in the 67th minute. It would prove the last opportunity for the Roadrunners as Dominican did not allow another shot over the final 24 minutes to secure the shutout victory.
 
Dominican will have several days to prepare for a showdown with a Division I opponent as the Penguins travel to the East Bay to take on Cal at Edwards Stadium on Monday at 3 p.m. PDT.