Dixie State University shutout Hawaii Pacific University en route to its eighth straight win Monday.
The Trailblazers’ blanked the Sharks 3-0 in Waipahu to remain perfect atop the Pacific West Conference standings.
DSU’s strong defensive effort kept pressure off goalkeeper and PacWest Freshman of the Week Zach Nielson as he picked up his third career win.
“We defend as a team from the forwards all the way to the goalie,” said sophomore defender Dominic Damato, a criminal justice major from Las Vegas. “We understand that at the end of the day if we don’t get scored on we can’t lose.”
Sophomore midfielder Gabby Medina, a finance major from Mesquite, Nevada, netted the first goal in the 22nd minute of the first half from 25-yards out. Medina now leads the trailblazers in scoring with four goals on the year.
The next two goals came in the second half just 11 minutes apart. One from junior midfielder Sean Jenne, a criminal justice major from Las Vegas, and one from junior midfielder Ather Dawood, a psychology major from Tuscon, Arizona.
“We’ve really come together as a team after losing our first three games,” said junior defender Bryan Baugh, a criminal justice major from Henderson, Nevada. “We’re a young team, but everyone feels like we’re a family, and we have each other’s backs no matter what happens.”
With DSU’s strong defense holding the Sharks to only two shots on goal for the whole match, three goals were more than enough to secure the Trailblazers’ victory.
DSU looks to remain perfect in its four-game roadtrip around Hawaii as the Trailblazers’ take on Hawaii Hilo Thursday.