TURLOCK, Calif.--- Stan State improved to 2-1-1 this evening after a 3-1 defeat of the visiting Dominican Penguins. The Warriors finished their home stand 2-0 and will return to the pitch this coming week with a pair of NCAA Division II West Region match-up in the State of Hawai'i.
FIRST HALF: Alejandra Melendez connected on a cross from Tanya Bills to give Dominican (1-3) the early 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. Stan State had a chance to tie the match at 1-1 in the 16
th when Natalie Haro recorded one of her seven saves on the evening stopping
Sabrina Cabrera's shot on goal attempt. Haro made two more saves in the 21
st minute off the feet of
Sunny Mancilla and Aliah Avila. Stan State tied the match at 1-1 as
Alexis Brewah connected on a cross from
Haylee Heffner and Mancilla in the 25
th minute. Brewah saw her chance to give the hosts the lead, but Haro made another save in the 40
th minute. With two minutes left in the alf, Avila had another chance to give the Warriors the lead, but her attempt sailed high over the net to send the match into the half tied at 1-1.
SECOND HALF: Stan State (2-1-1) took the 2-1 in the 50
th minute when
Amber Pon connected on a ball from
Makeila Yancey and
Alexis Brewah. The Warriors increased their lead to 3-1 in the 67
th minute on a goal by Heffner off a cross from
Sabrina Cabrera. Dominican had a couple of chances late in the match to cut into the Warrior lead, but all three of them sailed to the left on the net as the hosts held on for the 3-1 non-conference victory.
STATS: Stan State outshot the Penguins 16-8 including 10-1 in shot on goal attempts.
Natalia Ochoa picked up the win in goal for the Warriors. Natalie Haro had seven saves for the Penguins, who held a 3-1 corner kick advantage.
UP NEXT: The Warriors will travel to the State of Hawai'i this week for a pair of non-conference matches. They will face No. 14 Hawai'i Hilo this Friday, September 15 at 3pm (HT) and Chaminade this Sunday, September 17 at 11am (HT). Stan State will return home on Saturday, September 23 at 7pm when the Warriors host Chico State in their final non-conference match at 7pm. This will be Youth Soccer Night.
