Fittingly for "Senior Night, " senior midfielder Santiago Alejandro (Oakley, Calif./Alhambra HS) netted two goals to lead Dixie State to a 3-1 result over Hawai'i Pacific in a battle between two of the top teams in the Pacific West Conference Thursday night at Hansen Stadium.

The win kept the Red Storm (9-1-4/7-0-4 [25 points]) unbeaten and in second place in points in PacWest play and still in control of their own destiny as they chase their first-ever conference title. The victory was also the team's school-record breaking ninth of the season, which broke the previous mark of eight wins set in 2010 and first tied in 2011.

Dixie State got on the board in the 28th-minute when junior Michael Ropelato (Roy, Utah/Roy HS) scored his first goal of the season from 8-yards out on the left wing off a touch from junior Zach Leon (Oakley, Calif./Independence HS) to put the Storm up 1-0. Then just under 10 minutes gone by in the second half, Alejandro stepped up for a penalty kick try, but was denied by Shark goalkeeper Eduardo Palacios. However the HPU was called for encroachment on the try, which allowed Alejandro another chance, and this time he delivered to put DSU up 2-0.

HPU (8-5-1/6-3-1 PacWest) spoiled the Storm's shutout bid in late in the 84th-minute when Sven Koenig corralled a deflection and tucked the ball home from 6-yards out to cut the deficit to 2-1. Alejandro struck again two minutes for his team-leading sixth goal of the year, and second two-goal outing in as many home matches, as he scored off a deflection to put the game away.

"That was a pretty tough game," DSU Head Coach Josh Pittman said. "The are very talented but we hung tough and got a great finish from Rope against the run of play. Then Rope played a great through ball to Frankie to win a penalty and Santi buried it. The guys defended well again and the win sets us up for a huge match Saturday."

Both teams finished with 10 total shots, four on goal, with Alejandro accounting for four of DSU's shots, including the two on frame for goals. Junior Bradley Trella (Chandler, Ariz./Chandler HS) made three saves to run his record to 9-1-4 in goal.

Dixie State will close its 2015 home schedule on Halloween Saturday, Oct. 31, vs. Chaminade at 12:30 p.m., in a match that will be played at nearby Dixie High School. A Red Storm victory Saturday would set DSU up for a conference championship showdown at first place Fresno Pacific (9-1-1 [28 points] PacWest) next Saturday, Nov. 7.