Tim Kalkirtz
sports writer
The Dominican Stars Men’s Soccer team opened their regular season with a win at home against the Principia Panthers on Friday, Sept. 1. Sophomore Nico Vitale from Sheboygan, WI, scored 3 out of the Star’s 5 goals on the path to a 5-2 victory over the Panthers.
Vitale had a standout performance, scoring key goals and physically dominating his opponent. Vitale scored the Star’s first goal of the game, a header at the back post off a corner, after the team had been down 2-0 in the first half. Vitale also scored the goal that gave the Stars the lead in the game, making it 3-2.
Senior Jonathan Arzeta had a standout game as well scoring his first goal of the season as well as assisting 2 of Vitale’s goals. Sophomore Denis Soldo scored his first goal of the season assisted by sophomore Isaac Perez. Sophomore Cesar Franco and senior Nestor Ascencio also picked up assists on Nico Vitale’s 1st and 2nd goals respectively.
The Stars heavily outshot the Panthers in the 2nd half of the game. Both the Stars and Panthers had 7 shots in the first half. Dominican dominated Principia in shots in the 2nd half with 15, while Principia was held without a shot. The Panthers only shot two goals, while the Stars had 11 throughout the game.
Principia goaltender Matt Jones made 6 saves. Principia had 21 fouls called against them, compared to Dominican’s 9. The Panthers played a very physical game, and made risky plays in an attempt to turn the game around.
kalktimo@my.dom.edu