HONOLULU – It might be easily described as the Chaminade University men's soccer team's most heartbreaking loss of the season.
Dominican University of California scored a goal by Roberto Macias with 1:43 remaining to lift it past the Silverswords 2-1 Saturday at Saint Louis Field.
The game marked the return of former Chaminade head coach Zach Kingsley who left the team to take the same position at Dominican in late August. Kingsley guided the Silverswords to a program-record six wins last season, his only year as 'Swords head coach.
The Silverswords (1-11 overall, 1-8 Pacific West Conference) got on the board first with just 2:14 remaining before halftime when
James Meaney got a pass to
Avinash Singh toward the right corner of the Penguin sideline. Singh then fired a shot that hit the post but
Ryan Arkelian was there to power in the rebound for his second goal of the season. It was Singh's first assist of the season and the second for Meaney, who was celebrating his birthday.
But Dominican (2-13, 2-8) squared the game in the 56
th minute when Matt Case scored after a scrum ensued in front of the Chaminade net.
The tension of the game was evident with five total cautions being called including two on the Dominican bench when the go-ahead goal was scored for a player and an assistant coach leaving the bench area to celebrate on the field.
Bernd Buescherhoff played the entire first half and was replaced by
Rene Mejia in the second half. Despite Mejia being tagged for the loss, the senior played a valiant second half. Both 'Swords keepers made two saves.
Oscar O'con got the start for DUC and played the first half before being replaced by Patrick Rabbitt in the second. Rabbitt got the win to improve to 2-9.
Dominican took 12 shots to Chaminade's seven and had five corner kicks while the 'Swords had one.
The Silverswords will take to the road for their final Mainland trip of the year. Chaminade will open the trip at California Baptist on Thursday.
