Sept. 10, 2007

River Forest, Ill. - After dropping the first two games of the season on the road, Dominican University opened the 2007 season at home with back-to-back wins over Central Region rival University of Chicago 2-0 and University of Wisconsin-Platteville 4-1.

In the win over the University of Chicago Maroons, sophomore Juan Saldaña (O'Fallon, MO) logged the game-winning goal in the 31st minute of play as he beat the Maroons' keeper with a powerful shot to the far post off a corner kick. The goal, Saldaña's first of the season, snapped a 210 minute scoreless streak for the Stars.

Sophomore Nico Toro (Chesterfield, MO) added an insurance goal in the 79th minute while juniors Matt Kochanowski (Arlington Heights, IL) and Plamen Pamukov (Addison, IL) each tallied an assist for the Stars. Defensively, junior goalkeeper Piotr Sliwa (Chicago, IL) picked up his first shutout of the season as he recorded five saves in the winning effort for the Stars.

Kochanowski continued his torrent play with a pair of goals, including the what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 29th minute, and an assist in the Stars' victory over the UW-Platteville Pioneers on Saturday. Kochanowski's second goal came off a restart from 25 yards out as he ripped a shot around the wall and bent it just inside the far post.

Pamukov and sophomore Mark Golik (Mt. Prospect, IL) rounded out the Stars' scoring, each tallying their first goal of the season, while the Pioneers lone goal was scored as an `own goal' in the 48th minute.

The Stars will travel to Wheaton College on Wednesday, September 12, for a 7:00 p.m. game against last year's national runner-up.