Vanguard University

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.- Women's soccer ignited for two goals in 27 seconds to take down Dominican 2-1, Friday afternoon at Kennelly Field. Naia Kaulukukui unleashed a screamer to the top left corner to score her first career goal and break the deadlock in the 62^nd minute. Hailey Garvin scored from kickoff to issue VU's second, with a belter of her own floated first time to the top right corner. The Penguins purchased their only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the 68^th minute to make the match competitive late, but the Lions offered few outlets to surrender a second, closing out their NorCal trip with all three points.

"We're always playing for something greater than ourselves," reflected Head Coach Emily Reynolds. "Today we played for Liv," (Olivia Weidner).

The Blue and Gold improve to 7-6-1 and 5-2 in the Pacific West Conference. The result keeps them third in the league but helps build a substantial barrier between them and fifth place DUC (6-7-1, 1-4), who will need a dominant late season slate to push for a top four spot. VU's current 15-point total remains a solid buffer for a postseason position but makes for an interesting finish as four of the top five teams in the league have at least two games in hand over VU.

Kaylee Cuttress set up both VU goals to bring her up to three goal involvements in her last two games. Garvin's game-winning strike makes it seven total goals for her career and officially cements the Arizona native's best statistical season of her four-year tenure, with eight points (3 goals, 2 assists).

What Happened? The Penguins put out the first shot of the period, but VU put out the better performance in the half. They led in shots 9-2 through the first 45, with Abby Trujillo, Aneala Sibayan and Lindsey Hiraki at the heart of VU's strong showing.

Sibayan operated through the gaps in the middle and powered two of the first three Lion shots of the match. She forced the first save of the game from Rylee Buesing in goal, driving a deep line shot down the mouth of the net in the 18^th minute.

Trujillo was next to test the Penguin stopper, keeping DUC defenders on their heels with her play from the wings. The freshman forged two deadly crosses that just missed the feet of Cuttress before bolting a shot from outside the area to test Buesing once more.

The Blue and Gold shooting range continued for the remainder of the period. DUC went 40 minutes without a shot, with Hiraki acting as the stalwart to keep the opposing Penguin midfield in check.

Jennifer Alvarez checked in on the 24^th minute to inject the half's final burst of Vanguard offense, racking two shots in her stretch to require two more Buesing saves. VU also staked a chance in the 31^st minute, with Emily Wagner's well-placed set-piece service into Avery Hanhauser, whose header toward the back post glanced wide.

DUC's only real chance of the half came in the dying moments, with a threatening cross nearly catching VU's defense out of the sorts. The ball from the right wing was allowed to skip across the face of the goal, but it was Kaitlyn Currier who covered the onrushing DUC tap in at the back post to close out a 0-0 half.

Hiraki had her shooting boots on to get the second half underway, but DUC produced the better of the early chances, with a missed free header off a corner kick serving as their best opportunity.

The two-goal VU blitz manifested in the 62^nd minute, after the Lions kept a tight lid on the Penguins from the right wing. DUC's attempts to get out and clear their lines was halted with defensive stops first by Hiraki, then by Yamashita and finally by Kaulukukui to open up the chance. The freshman won the ball from the wing and touched it toward Cuttress at the right side of the top of the box. Cuttress used the outside of the boot for a first-time flick, and Kaulukukui smashed the ball with a left-footed beauty to the top left corner for 1-0 VU.

The Penguins had zero time to lick their wounds, as VU scored from DUC's kickoff. The Penguins pushed the ball back to their keeper and tried to dump it upfield. Both teams juggled a pair of headers before Garvin settled the ball on her chest and sent it toward the left edge of the box to Cuttress. The transfer had another crafty assist at the ready, chopping a backheel into the path of Garvin, who powered the first-time shot into the top right corner.

The Penguins managed to make it uncomfortable for the final 20 minutes after scoring six minutes later. It was Lion handball that gave DUC a penalty kick and foothold back into the match. Guilianna McCarty went bottom right from 12 paces, with Grayton Normand guessing correctly but beaten with a low-hard finish.

The Penguins had a 4-2 shot lead during the match's closing stretch. VU, however, had the lead at the final whistle, securing the 2-1 win to continue their quest for their first PacWest postseason appearance.

What's Next? VU will look for the upset as they travel down to San Diego to take on Point Loma on Wednesday, October 21. Opening kickoff is set for 12:30 pm.