HONOLULU – Junior Austin Stafford headed in a corner kick for a golden goal in the 106th minute to lead Hawai'i Pacific University to a season opening 1-0 PacWest Conference Hawai'i victory over Chaminade Saturday afternoon at St. Louis Field.
 
The Sharks (1-0, 1-0) peppered 13 previous shots at the Swords (0-1, 0-1) before finding the net for the winner.
 
Stafford, a junior transfer from Federal Way, Wash./Beamer via Concordia Portland, used a perfect header flick to score the winning goal off the corner kick of sophomore Yuya Yamamoto of Osaka, Japan/Osaka Toin from the right side.
 
The Sharks battled for 40 minutes, including the overtimes, with just 10 players after a red-card from a second yellow-card was issued to senior Gerrit Arzberger of Munich, Germany in the 66th minute.
 
HPU senior goalkeeper Jeremy Zielinski of Sunnyvale, Calif./Homestead recorded an overtime shutout, recording a save while the HPU defense allowed only five shots against him.
 
On the other side of the field, HPU delivered 14 shots against Sword goalkeeper Brandon Yasue who collected eight saves and the goal allowed.
 
HPU continues the Covid shortened and moved season next Sunday, Feb. 28, when the Sharks host Hawai'i Hilo in a PacWest Conference game.