PHOENIX, Ariz. - Defending co-champions Hawai'i Pacific and California Baptist opened the 2012 PacWest men's soccer season with victories during the first round of conference play this past week.

Alejandro Porras scored a goal and had four assists in HPU's 5-1 victory over Hawai'i Hilo. Paul Oliver's goal against Holy Names was the lone goal of the contest in a 1-0 road victory for CBU. That win followed the Lancers 4-2 victory over Fresno Pacific.

PacWest newcomers Holy Names and Point Loma each earned their first-ever conference men's soccer victories.

HNU won its opening conference match with a 3-0 win over Point Loma, but the Sea Lions earned their own first victory two days later when they edged Academy of Art 3-1. Two days before that, Art U had opened the season with an upset victory over newcomer Azusa Pacific.

Meanwhile, Grand Canyon, which jumped out to a solid start in the pre-conference schedule, won its league opener. Goalkeeper Joshua Zehring had a shutout in a 4-0 win at Fresno Pacific. The Antelopes continue their big trip on the road in the Bay Area this week.

Notre Dame de Namur also won its first conference match-up over Dixie State. Dixie State continues on the road in the Bay Area this week, while NDNU will head south to Point Loma this upcoming weekend and then to Hawai'i.

Two key contests to watch this week include HPU at BYU-Hawaii on Thursday and APU hosting CBU on Friday night in Azusa.