ARCATA, Calif. – Dominican women's soccer opened its season with a 1-0 victory over Cal Poly Humboldt in a physical contest at College Creek Field.

The Penguins (1-0-0) were efficient on the offense loosing five shots with four on frame, while the Jacks (0-1-0) finished with seven shots with only one on goal. Michelle Salas Viniegra recorded her first career solo shutout with her defense holding strong in the final third.

The first half was a grueling physical match between the two programs featuring a combined 17 fouls compared to three shots. Ysabella Belandres recorded the only shot on frame for either team as she tested Cal Poly Humboldt's Carson Thomson-Terrel in the 13th minute on a low shot, but Thomson-Terrel made the save. Neither team was credited with another shot over the next 32 minutes as the teams entered the half scoreless.

The physical nature of the game made a big impact the second half as Arianna Beddoes entered in the net for the Jacks and earned a yellow in the box trying to punch away a free kick towards her net and Dominican sent Belandres to the spot for the ensuing penalty. Belandres beat Beddoes beat the keeper low center for the 1-0 Penguin lead.

Karsyn Ross had the best look at goal for Cal Poly Humboldt in the 70th minute as she turned and aimed a quick shot far post but Salas Viniegra got her fingertips on it to steer it wide of her goal. They kept the pressure up for the next three minutes, but Dominican withstood the pressure to maintain its lead. 

The next 17 minutes were largely uneventful until Sari Murphy took advantage of a high hop of the ball to take a ball in the attacking third and then make a move past a defender to go one-on-one with the keeper but Murphy did not get off a clean shot sending it wide right. 

Dominican will return home to host Cal State East Bay on Sunday at 1 p.m. PDT at Kennelly Field.