CARSON, Calif. – For the second straight match, Cal State Bakersfield dropped a 1-0 decision, this time coming on the road in a single-goal loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills at Toro Field in Carson, Calif.
After scoring nine goals in two matches heading into last Sunday's matchup against Cal State Stanislaus, the goal production has fallen off the table, going two straight matches without a goal. It is just Bakersfield's second two-match losing streak of the season and the first time the Roadrunners have gone scoreless in back-to-back matches this season.
Defense was the key in this one with the two teams combining for the just nine shots in the first half with Bakersfield goalkeeper Steve Trojanowski making three saves compared to Dominguez Hills goalkeeper Kyle Polak's one.
The match remained scoreless until the 55th minute when a streaking Jesse Graham was taken down inside the box by Trojanowski, resulting in a Toro penalty kick.
Dominguez entered the match connecting on just one penalty in four chances in 2006 including an 0-for-2 night in a 3-2 loss at Cal State L.A. in September, but Humberto Lopez made it 2-for-5 on the year as he drilled his shot past a diving Trojanowski despite the Bakersfield goalkeeper guessing correctly with a dive to his right.
Bakersfield's Rigoberto Pinera had a chance to knot the match after he took a pass from Towa Manda in the 69th minute, but Pinera sailed his shot wide of the goal, keeping the match at 1-0.
That's when the officials suspended play for approximately six minutes as lightning flashes and booming thunder made their appearances more frequent.
After play resumed with heavy rain in tow, the Toros had a chance to add on to their lead, but a Julio Madrigal blast from six yards out and a Mario Guerrero rocket after a 20-yard dribble both went for naught.
Polak notched his league-leading 10th shutout of the year as he recorded two saves, while Trojanowski saved four shots in the loss. Domginguez outshot Bakersfield 14-9, including 10-4 in the decisive second half, and enjoyed a 6-1 cushion in corners.
Bakersfield plays its final road match of the 2006 season on Sunday when it travels to La Jolla to take on UC San Diego.
California State University, Bakersfield Athletic Department
9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022
Phone: (661) 654-3071 • FAX: (661) 654-2376
