WAIPAHU, Hawaii — The Jessup University men's soccer team battled Hawaii Pacific to a 1-1 halftime tie Monday night at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium, but the Sharks scored twice early in the second half to take a 3-1 decision in PacWest play.
Alessandro Velazquez scored the Warriors' lone goal in front of 375 fans.
The Sharks struck first, with Paul Norberg finding the net in the 12th minute. Jessup stayed composed and kept working its way into the match.
Curtis Lynch and the Warrior back line absorbed a steady stream of Hawaii Pacific chances, and the Warriors earned their reward late in the half. Velazquez, who came off the bench in the 27th minute, scored his third goal of the season in the 42nd minute to level the match at 1-1.
Jesus Rios and
Jordee Magana also put shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes, and the Warriors finished the half with three shots on target.
Hawaii Pacific broke the tie in the 56th minute, when Kelly Takara finished a Ryder Breeden assist, and Takara scored again five minutes later to make it 3-1. Lynch stayed sharp throughout the second half, making four saves, including stops on Anthony Najafi, Olle Ridelius, Elvis Villalva, and Danny Pascanu, and he finished the night with six saves in 90 minutes.
Eli Vera and Magana were among the Warriors who pushed forward looking for a second goal, and Velazquez and Vera each took two shots on the night.
It was a physical match, with the Warriors showing plenty of fight. Jessup was shown five yellow cards and was whistled for 11 fouls, while the Sharks held 64 percent of possession and won six corners.
Jessup (2-12-2, 0-7-1 PacWest) now heads back to the mainland and looks to bounce back on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Dominican University (CA) in San Rafael, with a scheduled 3:30 p.m. kickoff. The Warriors will aim to carry over the energy of their first-half response in Waipahu and turn it into a full 90 minutes.
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About Jessup University Athletics Jessup University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).
