SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican men's soccer created several quality first-half chances but could not solve Hawai'i Pacific goalkeeper Eduardo Marin as the Penguins fell 2-0 in the PacWest Championships semifinal Thursday morning at Kennelly Field.
The Sharks (9-5-3, 7-2-1 PacWest) were outshot 17-12 but placed six attempts on goal, while the Penguins (6-7-4, 5-3-1 PacWest) put 11 of their 17 shots on frame. Marin made 11 saves to preserve the shutout, while Colin Nestor stopped four shots for Dominican.
Dominican nearly struck first in the 11th minute when Adrian Garcia drove an attempt off the crossbar before Jake Kazlauskas followed with a shot that Marin stopped moments later.
Oliver Gonzalez created another dangerous look in the 14th minute, driving a high shot that dipped quickly and forced Marin to leap for the save.
HPU appeared to take the lead in the 23rd minute, but the goal was overturned following video review and the match remained scoreless.
The Sharks broke through at 24:24 when Jackson Palladino carried the ball down the right side and crossed toward Kelly Takara, who finished high at the near post from a tight angle for a 1-0 lead.
Dominican continued to press late in the half. Rolando Gonzalez tested Marin twice in the closing minutes, including a shot in the 43rd minute that came off the goalkeeper's hands before striking the right post and staying out.
The Penguins opened the second half with sustained pressure, forcing Marin into saves on Sebastian Jaral, Sharod Williams and Garcia during a four-minute stretch. Garcia and Jaral each had another attempt turned away before HPU doubled the advantage in the 60th minute.
Felix Leins pushed the ball into Paul Norberg inside the penalty area, and Norberg finished with his right foot at 59:15 for the 2-0 margin.
Dominican kept generating opportunities after falling behind by two. Garcia forced another save in the 73rd minute before Rolando Gonzalez tested Marin again in the 88th, but the Penguins could not break through.
Nestor finished with four saves, increasing his career total to 121 and remaining sixth on Dominican's NCAA Division II-era career list.
The loss ended Dominican's season at 6-7-4 after the Penguins returned to the PacWest Championships following a 6-6-4 regular season.
