The Dominican University men's soccer team picked up a win in the Stars' home opener, topping the visiting Olivet College Comets, 3-nil, in a Central Region matchup in River Forest on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Stars were impressive in the win, surrendering just six shots, only one on goal, to post their first clean sheet of the season after suffering a 1-0 loss to the #18 University of Chicago Maroons to open the season on Tuesday.
 
"I liked the way the boys came out. They responded well after a sub-par performance on Tuesday night," commented Dominican's Erick Baumann, the Stars' head coach in his 21^st season. "I liked our intensity and compete level.  I liked the way we played—we didn't get out of our game and played our game well."
 
Frankie Saiz (Naperville, Ill.) tallied what proved to be the game-winner in the 37^th minute when he gathered a loose ball just outside the Olivet six-yard box and then beat the Comets' goalkeeper to the far post for his first goal of the season.  The score was set up when Olivet's Denver Bonkowski failed to clear Javier Romero's (Wheeling, Ill.) service, leaving Saiz alone with no one to beat but the goalkeeper.
 
The score remained 1-0 into half despite Dominican's high pressure on offense that created chances for the Stars who outshot the Comets, 8-2, over the first 45 minutes.
 
In the second half, Saiz picked up a helper in the 55^th minute when he rolled a pass along the top of the 18-yard box to sophomore Adam Yaghmour (Norridge, Ill.) who ripped a shot for his first goal of the season.
 
"Frankie [Saiz] probably played his best game of his Dominican career today," remarked Baumann in reaction to Saiz's match. "He is very good on the ball right now—quick, making very dangerous runs, hard to account for--what a great box score he had."
 
Saiz finished with four shots, two on goal, for one goal and an assist in 73 minutes played.
 
Dominican then capped the scoring in the 69^th minute with Romero connected with fellow rookie Iven Hernandez (Antioch, Ill.) for a beautiful goal.  Romero drove service from the right back right onto the head of Hernandez who was making a run at the back post.  Hernandez was able to power the ball into the back of the goal for his first collegiate score.
 
"It was real nice to see two freshmen hook up for that goal," remarked Baumann.  "Romero has been coming on in our training sessions and earned an opportunity to play today."  
 
In the match, Dominican outshot the Comets 16-6, putting seven shots on frame compared to just one shot on goal for Olivet.  The Stars' Gabriel Gongora posted the shutout, the 11^th of his career, in facing six shots and recording one save.
 
The Stars, now 1-1-0 on the season, return to the West Campus pitch on Wednesday, hosting the Elmhurst College Bluejays in a non-conference tilt.  Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.