KANEOHE, Hawai'i – California Baptist's Isalei Tauaese header off a corner kick in the 81st minute pushed the Lancers to a 3-2 Pacific West Conference victory over Hawai'i Pacific University Saturday afternoon at Atherton Field.
 
HPU (2-9-1, 2-4-0) had fought back with a second half goal to tie the score before CBU (5-4-3, 4-1-2) put in the game winner with nine minutes to play.
 
Cal Baptist outshot the Sharks 16-10, but both teams had equal shots on goal at eight each.
 
The Lancers had control of the match early, scoring twice within two minutes about a third of the way through the opening half.
 
CBU's Chaylin Couzen's opened the scoring in the 19th minute after taking over a broken pass and blasting it in from 20 yards away.
 
Just 90 seconds later, Jordan Dow got a cross to the top of the 6-yard box from Miranda Hald and made it a 2-0 lead.
 
But the Sharks regrouped and fought for a score before intermission.
 
Sophomore forward Kai Hasegawa of Honolulu, Hawai'i/Kaiser was fed into the box by freshman Ebony Madrid of Porterville, Calif./Ramstein. Hasegawa went at CBU keeper Sara Escobedo who came off the line to meet her. Hasegawa made a slight cut left and slid the ball into the net to send the game into the half at 2-1.
 
HPU controlled tempo for most of the second half and found an equalizing goal in the 75th minute as sophomore Noelle Mercado of Honolulu, Hawai'i/Kaiser took a long cross from junior Lei Kaina of Waipahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha/Kapalama on the left and pounded home her fourth goal of the season.
 
CBU threw an all attack forward and scored the winner six minutes later.
 
HPU keeper Alannah John, a junior from Sacramento, Calif./Ponderosa recorded five saves on the afternoon.
 
CBU's Escobedo had six saves in the win.
 
The Sharks have some time to recover, as they are slated to return to action next Saturday afternoon against Chaminade. The contest is scheduled for a 3 p.m. kickoff at Atherton Field.