SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Heading into Saturday's meeting between the Chaminade University and Dominican University of California men's soccer teams, the outcome was decided by a late goal in five of the past seven contests.
The 2023 version was no different.
The Silverswords, clinging to a one-score lead for much of the contest, had victory snatched away thanks to a late Penguins goal coming in the 82nd minute. However, unlike the past five decisions which were all losses, this resulted in a 1-1 draw at Kennelly Field.
Kainoa Carpenter (Kahului, Maui, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Maui) scored just six minutes into the game and the 'Swords survived a 27-shot barrage by the Penguins to salvage the tie against the defending Pacific West Conference champions.
The draw, which could be considered an upset of sorts, put Chaminade at 0-6-2 on the season and 0-2-1 in the PacWest. The Penguins are 4-3-2 overall and 2-0-1 in the conference.
The Silverswords' goal came early with Carpenter finding the back of the net on the first shot of the game at 6:07, the sophomore's second goal of the season, becoming the first on the team with multiple goals this season. Perhaps not too surprisingly, the assist came from
Owen Caba (West Linn, Ore./West Linn), his fourth of the year, putting him one behind the conference lead.
For the next 76 minutes, the 'Swords made the score stand as goalkeeper
Brandon Yasue (Honolulu/Kaiser), who returned to the lineup after missing the previous two due to an injury, fended off 21 DUC shots. However, on the Penguins' 22nd try at the net, Cole Porter got the tying goal in the 82nd minute, marking the third time in the series that DUC managed to get a tying or winning score in the 80th minute or beyond.
As the Penguins made a last-ditch effort for the go-ahead goal, Yasue stood tall and made four of his career-high 11 saves in the final six minutes to preserve the tie. His DUC counterpart, Alejandro Reyes, did not record a save.
Chaminade managed just two shots on the afternoon, both coming in the first half on Carpenter's goal and a Caba shot.
The Silverswords will return to O'ahu and take 11 days off before getting back to action on Thursday, Oct.12 to face in-city rival Hawai'i Pacific University at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
