WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Junior Leonicia Lopez scored twice in the final four minutes of the game to lead Hawai'i Pacific University to a 3-1 win over Western Oregon in non-conference action Friday afternoon at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex Field 5.
 
The Sharks (3-1) overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit to the Wolves (0-3) to close a four-game season-opening homestand.
 
"We weren't playing in sync in the first half," said HPU head coach Gina Brewer. "We played better in the second half after a challenge at halftime along with the strong individual play of (Sara) Romo and Nici (Lopez) on the goals."
 
Lopez, a 5-7 forward from Sacramento, Calif./Christian Brothers HS, broke a 1-1 tie in the 86th minute by converting a penalty kick after being taken down inside the box by the Wolves for her second goal of the season.
 
Then two minutes later, Lopez recovered a ricocheted pass and sent it past Wolves goalkeeper Caitlin Kastelic for the clincher.
 
HPU started the three goal half in the 69th minute when senior midfielder Sara Romo of Elk Grove, Calif./Franklin broke from a scrum to dribble to the front of the goal and fire into the net to knot the contest.
 
The Shark flurry in the second half overcame slow first half that saw Western get on the scoreboard in the 12th minute when Kaili Brundage took a throw-in from Alyssa Tomasini and sent a one-timer into the back of the net.
 
HPU outshot Western Oregon 6-2 in the second half to hold a 9-7 advantage. HPU junior goalkeeper Lauren Spencer of Oxford, Mich./Oxford tallied three saves with the goal allowed. WOU's Kastelic tallied two saves with the three goals.
 
The Sharks hit the road for their final contest before conference play when they visit the Big Island to take on Hawai'i Hilo in a designated non-conference affair on Saturday, Sept. 15. HPU opens PacWest Conference play the following week on the mainland.