IRVINE, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University opened its 2017 PacWest Conference season on a down note with a 2-1 overtime loss at Concordia Irvine on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Sharks (2-2-1, 0-1) grabbed the first goal of the match at Eagle Field, but couldn't hold off the Eagles (2-2-1, 0-1) in the conference opener.
 
After a scoreless opening half, HPU lit the scoreboard first in the 51st minute on Josch Cuerten's fifth goal of the season. The senior from Cologne, Germany took a pass from senior Christopher Galang of Aiea, Hawai'i/Mililani and blasted the shot past the CUI keeper from outside of the 18-yard box into the bottom corner of the net to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.
 
The score stood until an HPU foul in the 79th minute that allowed Concordia a free kick. Jose Huerta shot from the restart and slid it past the Sharks for a bottom corner goal.
 
The teams remained tied at 1-all into the golden goal overtime period. The Eagles got a ball near the top of the box to Michael Oakson flicked the ball to Huerta. Huerta chested it down to his foot for a shot that found the top left corner for the win in the 99th minute.
 
CUI outshot HPU 9-8 for the contest. HPU senior goalkeeper Daniel Arnoll of Verrieres-le-Buisson, France, posted four saves. The same was true for Eagles keeper Saul Ocampo.
 
The Sharks continue their five-match road trip with their fourth game on the swing on Saturday. HPU meets California Baptist in a game set for noon HST (3 p.m. PDT).