KANEOHE, Hawai'i – Concordia Irvine scored in the 72nd minute then held on to defeat Hawai'i Pacific University 2-1 in women's PacWest action Saturday at HPU's Atherton Field.
 
CUI's McKenna Carrillo got a shot through HPU goalkeeper Alanna Johns to break a 1-1 tie with 18 minutes left to play for the go ahead goal.
 
The win leaves the Eagles (7-0-2, 3-0-1) as the only unbeaten team in PacWest play though third in the standings on points. The Sharks (2-7-1, 2-3-0) suffered its second straight loss in league play.
 
The Sharks jumped out to the lead in the 34th minute when sophomore midfielder Noelle Mercado of Honolulu, Hawai'i/Kaiser put a shot away for a 1-0 lead. Mercado got the ball just to the left of the goal off a pass from junior midfielder Lei Kaina of Waipahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama that reversed the field.
 
The Eagles answered five minutes later in the 39th minute when Natalie Werner sent a free kick into the box to Lizette Luna who chalked up the equalizer.
 
The score didn't budge again until the 72nd minute.
 
Led by John, a junior from Sacramento, Calif./Ponderosa, the Shark defense made the Eagles struggle. CUI recorded 18 shots, with John picking up eight saves to go with a team save.  HPU recorded 12 shots with CUI keeper Jazmin Alvarez picking up four saves.
 
"I thought it was one of our best games yet, putting together all the pieces defensively and offensively," said HPU coach Gina Brewer. "We had some great opportunities and had some real improvement from the team. I was proud of our team overall today."
 
"Alana had a great game, other than the one shot. It's a tough situation. She obviously thought she had it under control and it kind of slipped through her hands. It's not going to happen all that often, but it's unfortunate when it does."
 
HPU will have the opportunity to turn it around quickly as they are back in action on Monday afternoon. The Sharks face Dixie State at Waipio Soccer Park in a 3 p.m. match in the second game of a PacWest men's and women's doubleheader.