PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University men's soccer team gave traditional Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference power Dominican University a push for 45 minutes but the Stars capitalized on opportunities in the second half to defeat the Muskies 4-0 Wednesday night at Taylor Field.

Dominican's goals included tallies off a corner kick and another on a penalty kick as Lakeland continued to search for its first-ever win in the series. The Muskies started a stretch heavy on home games with a loss, dropping to 2-8 overall and 1-4 in conference.

The Stars (5-3-3 overall, 2-0-2 NACC) scored just over two minutes into the match, as a run by Olek Melnyk to the end line and then a centering pass was easily knocked in by Paul Urban. The inauspicious start appeared to indicate a long night in store for Lakeland, but the hosts regrouped and played Dominican on largely even terms in the first half.

The Stars held a slim 7-5 lead in shots at halftime, and the Muskies held possession for a good period of time and had several quality chances. Brendan Perry (Sr.-New Baltimore, Mich.) came up from his defender spot for the first shot on goal in the 14th minute, but Lakeland had even better opportunity less than two minutes later when Porter Gigstead (Fr.-Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) chipped a pass from Max Mirhashemi (Fr.-Appleton, Wis.) that Stars goalkeeper Shane Marinkovich had to deflect away.

Jordan Davis-Troller (Jr.-Cottage Grove, Wis.) also had a strong chance in the 37th minute with a free kick from 25 yards out, a laser ticketed for just inside the crossbar before Marinkovich turned it away. The teams finished in a 3-3 tie for shots on goal in the first half.

Just as it did in the first half, though, Dominican struck early again in the second half. The goal came on a set play, as Urban's free kick from the left corner into the box was headed in by Zach Gamster inside the left post, giving the Stars a 2-0 lead.

Dominican largely controlled possession in the second half, and the Stars got a runout in the 78th minute with a pass far ahead to Urban. Ciaran Geraghty was behind the Muskies defense and goalkeeper Zach Heiman (Sr.-Racine, Wis.) came out of goal to try to beat Geragthy to the ball, but the Stars midfielder reached it first just enough to punch it past Heiman, and the ball rolled into the goal to make it 3-0.

Dominican added one more final goal with just over a minute left. A foul in the box led to a penalty kick, and Dylan Alic converted the kick for the final score.

The Stars finished with a 12-6 advantage in shots in a game that saw long stretch of play in the midfield. Heiman made four saves for Lakeland while Marinkovich finished with three saves for Dominican.

The Muskies are home again Friday night when they host Aurora University at 7 p.m. at Taylor Field.