SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican women's soccer built a lead and then held on for the 2-1 victory over University of Hawai'i at Hilo on Wednesday afternoon at Kennelly Field.
Araceli Mejia scored her first goal of the year and
Megan Clapinski tallied her fourth to lift the Penguins (3-0-4, 1-0-0 PacWest) to its first decision against the Vulcans (1-2-3, 0-1-0 PacWest) since 2019 and first win since 2017.
Angelina Hert collected four saves for Dominican in the victory, while Lydia Keller had six saves for UHH facing constant pressure.
The Penguins earned an early corner kick in the second minute and after the first ball went long
Emma Wilson was able to serve it back into the center of the box and
Ysabella Belandres got a head on it forcing Lydia Keller to leap over a teammate to punch the ball wide. The Vulcans' Annette Sotelo made some nifty moves to create some space for herself at the top of the box in the 22nd minute sending a curling shot towards the far post, but
Angelina Hert made the diving save to her left.
Janae Schwan and
Avery Bravo entered the game to provide Dominican a spark with Bravo finding Schwan alone in the center of the box, but her bicycle shot attempt was gathered in by Keller in the 31st minute.
Araceli Mejia was set up perfectly on a quick pass from
Megan Clapinski in the 34th minute and Mejia sent a high shot from the top right corner of the box towards the goal but it glanced off the crossbar and out of play. Schwan left a defender guarding air after a deke in the 37th minute and sent a shot towards the top center of the goal but Keller again made the save.
Ayla Moore made a run up the left side seconds later and sent a high curling shot with Keller again doing just enough to keep the ball out of the back of her net.
Mejia jostled for possession of the ball with a defender in the 50th minute winning the battled before taking a touch to her left and firing inside the far post for the 1-0 Dominican lead. Ashlynn Hill played a beautiful pass across the field that took a hop over a defenders foot allowing Clapinski to get to the ball take a dribble forward before sending a shot from 25-yards out above the keepers hands for the 2-0 lead in the 74th minute.
The Vulcans got one back in the 82nd minute as Tatianna Chavez took a good turn and crossed the ball into the box where Briana Kubli deflected the ball inside the left post to make it 2-1.
Shulien Kemmler Liu was set up perfectly by Clapinski in the 87th minute and she sent a powerful shot on frame, but Keller was able to push the ball over her crossbar to keep the game close. Dominican's defense locked in and kept UHH from further dangerous attempts to clinch the victory.
The Penguins will host Chaminade on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PDT for Youth Soccer Day at Kennelly Field.
