SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican women's soccer generated several promising buildups and finished with an advantage in total shots Wednesday afternoon, but Biola struck twice in the second half to earn a 2-0 PacWest victory at Kennelly Field.
The Penguins fell to 6-4-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Biola improved to 6-3-2 and 3-0-1 in the PacWest. Dominican held a 9-6 advantage in shots and a 3-1 edge in corner kicks, while each team put four attempts on goal.
Dominican showed some encouraging buildup during the opening half but had difficulty producing a final chance from several of those attacks. The Penguins' best opportunity came in the 19th minute when
Janae Schwan took aim from distance. Her shot sailed over goalkeeper Sami Robinson but did not dip quite enough, striking the crossbar and bouncing out for a goal kick. The Penguins also put shots on frame through Schwan earlier in the half and
Brisa Navarrete in the 30th minute, but Robinson turned away both attempts.
Biola threatened late in the period when Briley Phelps found space for a shot in the 41st minute.
Michelle Salas Viniegra dove to her right and pushed the attempt wide of the net before an Eagle making a run behind the play could reach the rebound. Salas Viniegra made another save on Phelps three minutes later to send the match to halftime scoreless.
The Eagles broke through just over two minutes into the second half. A Dominican clearance was intercepted by Hayden Gehring near the top of the box, and Gehring took a touch to her left before striking back across her body for her third goal of the season and a 1-0 Biola lead at 47:10. Dominican attempted to answer immediately, with
Carson Warfield putting a shot on frame just over a minute later, but Laura Brennan made the save.
Biola doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute when Phelps beat a defender and carried the ball into space before unleashing a shot from approximately 30 yards. The long-range strike found the upper portion of the net for her eighth goal of the season and a 2-0 lead. The Penguins continued pushing forward, generating a corner and attempts from
Emma Wilson and
Tahlia Smith before
Bailey Nadell forced Brennan into another save in the 73rd minute. Biola's defense held the rest of the way to complete the shutout.
Dominican will return to the pitch Saturday in a rematch of last year's PacWest Championship with Point Loma at 12:30 p.m. at Kennelly Field.
