TURLOCK, Calif. – Dominican men's soccer generated steady pressure Saturday night, but Stanislaus State found goals late in each half to top the Penguins 2-0 at Warrior Stadium.
Dominican (0-3-3) finished with a 13-12 advantage in shots and matched Stanislaus State with five shots on goal. The Penguins also held a 6-3 edge in corner kicks, including four in the first half, but the Warriors (2-2-2) were able to capitalize on their chances as Dylan Isasi finished with five saves to preserve the shutout.
The Penguins came out aggressive, earning back-to-back corner kicks in the opening three minutes before
Adrian Garcia sent the first Dominican shot wide left in the ninth minute.
Norman Tellez and
Dominic Bolender forced three saves in a 12-second span in the 12th minute with Bolender having two looks at goal, but Isasi kept the match scoreless.
Stanislaus State created its first dangerous look in the seventh minute as Gerardo Flores put a shot on frame, but
Colin Nestor made the save. The Warriors began to find more space later in the half, with Emmanuel Duran and Alexis Cervantes getting looks before Duran missed left in the 30th minute.
Dominican continued to push midway through the half, earning two more corners in the 22nd minute, but Stanislaus State broke through in the 41st. The Warriors worked the ball through Leo Avalos and Duran before Hugo Canedo finished the chance to give Stanislaus State a 1-0 lead. Dominican nearly answered moments later as
Sebastian Jaral put a shot on frame, but Isasi made the save and the Warriors took the one-goal lead into halftime.
The Penguins created another early chance after the break as Garcia had a look in the 55th minute, but the shot was off target.
Griffin Brophy added another good look in the 62nd as a cross found him alone in the center of the box, but his left-footed attempt went high. Stanislaus State answered with a pair of chances, including a Canedo shot saved by Nestor in the 48th minute and an Adrian Yepez attempt in the 66th that Nestor also handled.
Dominican continued to search for the tying goal in the final 20 minutes. Jaral sent an header attempt wide left in the 71st minute, and
Benjamin Southern missed high less than two minutes later.
Patrick Zamora Salazar added a look in the 81st minute, but his shot also went high.
Stanislaus State added separation in the 82nd minute as Yepez set up Duran for the Warriors' second goal. Dominican pushed again late, earning corner kicks in the 85th and 87th minutes.
Christian Sotomayor forced one final save in the 87th minute, and
Jake Kazlauskas and Zamora Salazar each followed with attempts, but the Penguins could not cut into the deficit.
Dominican will return to action Tuesday, Sept. 22, as it faces Jessup in a nonconference match at Warrior Field in Rocklin.
