COSTA MESA, Calif. – Dominican men's soccer could not complete a comeback as it fell 5-2 to Vanguard on Thursday at VU Soccer Complex.

Anthony Stainer scored his fourth goal of the season while Sergio Laguna netted his second to lead the Penguins (5-9-1, 3-5-1 PacWest) back within one before half. Adan Alvarado led the Lions (8-4-4, 6-1-2 PacWest) with a brace to go with an assist.

Vanguard quickly built a lead as Alvarado found Tyler Williams for a goal just two minutes into the game. Alvarado then converted a penalty kick in the 10th minute to double the lead and Niko Ochoa was able to beat the keeper to the ball in the 19th minute before sending the ball into the back netting for the 3-0 Lion lead.

Dominican battled back as Cole Porter played a ball from the middle out wide to Stainer in the 29th minute and he beat the keeper far post from a tight angle to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Penguins continued to climb its way back into the game as Laguna settled a ball in the midfield before passing to Quentin Torbert who took space up the middle to draw the center backs up before slipping a ball behind them to Laguna who took a one-touch shot past the keeper to make it 3-2 at the half.

Alvarado played a ball to himself and past a defender before slotting a shot home near post to extend the lead back to 4-2 in the 56th minute. Jake Kazlauskas had a chance in the 86th minute to make it a one goal game as he tried to redirect a pass into the box but instead a counter allowed the Lions to score their fifth goal of the game.

Dominican will conclude its season Saturday at Westmont with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. PST at Thorrington Field in Santa Barbara.