WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University junior Jacob Malach's goal in the 76th minute led the Sharks to a 1-0 PacWest victory Thursday afternoon at the Waipio Soccer Complex.
 
The Sharks (3-4-2, 1-3-1) collected their first PacWest win of the year. The Urban Knights (3-5-1, 2-3) dropped their second straight game.
 
The two teams battled without a score through most of the game in off-and-on rain showers before HPU collected the only tally in the 76th minute.
 
The Sharks forced a corner kick from the near side. Sophomore midfielder Christian Porras of Rockville, Md./Rockville served a beautiful ball to the middle of the box where Malach used a driving header to rocket the ball into the back of the net.
 
The score was one of the 10 shots by the Sharks on the day, with ArtU goalkeeper Kris Jensson stopping three along with the goal allowed.
 
HPU senior goalkeeper Daniel Arnoll of Verrieres-le-Buisson, France faced only three Academy of Art shots, recording just one save as the HPU defense was nearly impenetrable.
 
The second of a three-game homestand for the Sharks, HPU closes the homestand on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Waipio Soccer Complex as they host Hawai'i Hilo in PacWest Conference action.