KANEOHE, Hawai'i – Junior Leonicia Lopez scored on a 25-yard blast in the 89th minute to propel Hawai'i Pacific University to a 1-0 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills in non-conference women's soccer action Saturday afternoon at Atherton Field.
 
The Sharks (2-0) battled the Toros (0-2) appeared to be headed for overtime when HPU found an opening.
 
HPU moved the ball up field off a restart when a pass went into a scrum in the middle of the offensive zone. After ricocheting off a CSUDH defender, the ball kicked to the right finding an open Lopez going down the outside. The junior from Sacramento, Calif./Christian Brothers dribbled two steps then launched a rocket from 25 yards that screamed past Toro goalkeeper Ruth-Maria Soto with 1:56 remaining to play.
 
"A great finish," said HPU coach Gina Brewer. "Nici got a great shot off and made all our hard work in the game really count. I'm so proud of our team."
 
The Sharks recorded nine shots in the game, with six on goal. Soto saved four and the Toros posted one team save.
 
HPU goalkeeper Lauren Spencer notched a shutout, posting six saves on the Toros' 11 shots.
 
The Sharks had held CSUDH to just one shot in the first half of the defensive game, but the Toros blasted away with 10 shots in the second frame. HPU had three first half shots and six second half attempts.
 
The Sharks will play again on Wednesday afternoon when they host Concordia Portland (Ore.) in non-conference play. The match is at 3 p.m., at the Waipio Soccer Complex Field #5 in Waipahu.