SAN RAFAEL, CA – Menlo Women's Soccer traveled to San Rafael for their first road matchup of the 2026 season on Tuesday, battling Dominican University in a tightly contested 0-1 decision. The Oaks found themselves trailing early after Dominican sent a shot into the net from outside the box in the 13th minute, but Menlo continued to compete throughout the remainder of the match, creating opportunities and keeping the Penguins within reach until the final whistle.
Oak Standouts
First Road Test of 2026
Menlo came out looking to establish itself early, with Leilani Phillips recording the Oaks' first shot just over eight minutes into the contest. Dominican answered with pressure of its own before they broke through in the 13th minute, scoring the game's only goal. The Oaks responded by continuing to push forward, with Ella Liebhardt and Emma Roberson each adding shots before halftime.
The Oaks remained within striking distance throughout the second half. Olivia Sams provided one of Menlo's best opportunities of the afternoon when she fired a shot toward the top right corner in the 64th minute, but Dominicans keeper made the save. Menlo continued to battle through the final minutes while the defense held the Penguins to limited opportunities, with Cordes making a key save in the 86th minute to keep the match at 0-1.
Up Next…
The Oaks return home for their next matchup on Friday, September 4, welcoming the Sharks of Hawaii Pacific University to Wunderlich Field for a 12pm kickoff.
