HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University scored early and often in taking down in-state rival Hawai'i Hilo 6-1 in a non-conference contest on Saturday afternoon on the UH Hilo campus.
 
The Sharks (2-2-1) scored four second half goals in handing the Vulcans (0-4) to their fourth straight loss.
 
The Sharks got a pair of goals from junior Garret Arzberger of Munich, Germany/Therese von Bayern and sophomore Reece Montgomery of Dromore, Northern Ireland/Dromore to go with scores from senior Jair Espinoza of San Miguel Petapa, Guatemala/CSD Municipal and freshman Mitchell Brenner of Eau Claire, Wisc./Memorial. Arzberger collected a pair of assists as well.
 
Junior goalkeeper Jeremy Zielinski of Sunnyvale, Calif./Homestead was nearly perfect, posting four saves and allowing a goal in six shots by the Vulcans.
 
The Sharks blasted away at the Vulcans and goalkeeper Michael Harre who recorded six saves and allowed six goals on 17 shots.
 
HPU got the first score on the board in the sixth minute on a corner kick. Arzberger launched a high arching kick where senior Isac Mansson of Stockholm, Sweden/Bromma Gymnasium touched it over to Espinoza who blasted it in for the 1-0 lead.
 
Arzberger posted the next two goals himself. The Sharks senior picked up his first of the game and fourth of the season in the 18th minute off a pass from senior Paul Enzigmueller from Zimdorf, Germany to give HPU a 2-0 lead that they would carry into halftime.
 
The teams battled until Arzberger made it 3-0 in the 64th minute on a give-and-go. Arzberger started the drive, gave it to Espinoza who touched it back to Arzberger for the score.
 
Then eight minutes later Arzberger fed Brenner for the youngster's first collegiate goal and a 4-0 HPU lead.
 
The Vulcans broke up the shutout in the 85th minute on a goal by Pedro Werneck from Gabriel Contreras.
 
But the Sharks came back with a pair of goals from Montgomery, who came in off the bench Montgomery scored in the 88th minute from a pass from with senior Luiz Garcia of Campo Grande, Brazil/Colegio Salesiano Dom Bosco, then added a finale in the last 31 seconds.
 
The teams meet a week from Sunday in PacWest Conference play at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex Field 5. The game on Oct. 6 that kicks at 2:30 p.m., was moved to Field 5 as the Waipio Stadium field was closed due to maintenance.
 
The Sharks will be in action at Waipio Stadium next Friday evening when they open PacWest play against Notre Dame de Namur. The game, that follows the HPU women's contest with NDNU, is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.