ROCKLIN, Calif. – Dominating the match from the jump, Dominican men's soccer used an explosive first half that was spread across the roster en route to their Pacific West Conference win over Jessup on Saturday, which resulted with a 4-2 final score.

Both teams opened the match with early attempts on goal, but the Penguins' second try found the back of the net off the foot of DUC's leading scorer on the season thus far, in junior forward Rolando Gonzalez in the 12th minute. Dished to him from junior midfielder Sergio Laguna, this was just the start of the offensive performance Dominican were soon to put on. 

After two more shots each from both sides, the Penguins managed to knock through their second of the day as junior midfielder Anthony Stainer booted one towards the center of the goal to go up 2-0 in the 25th minute. The Warriors responded with three straight shots thereafter, but as none got through, Dominican turned it around on Jessup to score their third of the half, this time by sophomore forward Alejandro Suarez-Amaya, sent over by sophomore midfielder Jake Kazlauskas in the 33rd minute.

For their last score of the opening 45 minutes, graduate student forward Freddie Allen tucked one away for his first goal in a Dominican uniform in the 42nd minute, as he was assisted by sophomore forward Ben Schumann. The four goals in the first half marks the first time that the Penguins have scored four or more in a 45 minute period since Oct. 9, 2023 against Concordia, when the squad scored on four occasions in the second half.

While Jessup got seven shots off of their own in the first half, none managed to sneak through while junior goalkeeper Colin Nestor racked up four saves in the opening frame. Dominican were up at the break 4-0.

In the second frame, the match saw 11 shots total from both sides before the next goal of the match, this time by Jessup for their first. The Warriors were awarded a penalty kick in the 72nd minute, and Mateo Marth of Jessup took advantage to finally see a breakthrough and get his team on the board. Seconds before the conclusion of the match, Jessup tacked on another score as Jordee Magana snuck one in right before the final whistle.

With graduate student goalkeeper Nylmar Gonzalez De Leon coming in for the second half, he recorded two saves on Jessup's 14 second-half shots. The victory secured Dominican's third road win of the season, while it was the first PacWest Conference road win as well.

The Penguins will be back in action this upcoming Monday, as they'll return home to take on Fresno Pacific for their first sighting of a three-match homestand.