BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Cal State Bakersfield mens soccer team rode the performances of its top two offensive weapons to a 6–1 victory over Cal State San Bernardino Friday night on the Main Soccer Field in Bakersfield.
The win lifts Bakersfield (12–5–2, 8–5–2 CCAA) at least temporarily into first place in the CCAA. Cal State L.A. began the day with a one–point lead and hosted Cal Poly Pomona Friday evening.
Senior forward
Lyle Martin enjoyed a six–point night in the penultimate match of his college career, scoring two goals and adding two assists to lead Bakersfield. The two goals give Martin 15 for the season, moving him past Ayman Hamid for the fourth–best season total in Roadrunner history. He needs two more goals to catch Jeremy Gunn for No. 2 and four more goals to match Joey Mejias for the best single–season mark at Cal State Bakersfield.
His 27 career goals leave him two behind Kyle Gookins for the No. 5 spot in the Bakersfield record book.
Sophomore forward
Ryan Gay added the first brace of his collegiate career, including the match–winner in the 44th minute. Freshman forward
Rigoberto Pinera chipped in a goal and an assist.
Though Martin and Gay combined for four goals, Pinera may have been the man of the match for the Roadrunners. He consistently made good decisions and even better touches while his 30–yard, free kick equalizer in the first half was highlight reel material.
Despite the final margin, San Bernardino opened the floodgates after a listless first 25 minutes. In the 28th minute, a failed clearance found its way to David Buhre and he wheeled and fired a blast from 25 yards that just stayed inside the left post to give the Coyotes a 1–0 lead. Gay put Bakersfield ahead to stay in the 44th minute when he took a long through ball from
Manny Guzman, fought off a tackle at the top of the box, and won a one–on–one battle with goalkeeper Lucas Pepi.
It was all Bakersfield from that point. Guzman finished a nice series of passes from Pinera and Martin to give the Roadrunners a 3–1 lead in the 57th minute. Gay and Martin then played tick–tack–toe in the box, with Gay walking around a helpless Pepi in the 64th minute.
Martin capped the scoring with his brace, twice blazing past the Coyote backline on counter attacks to create breakaways. His second goal was the most spectacular. He made a 70 yard run onto a perfectly–timed through ball from
Javier Barba. Pepi showed patience staying on his line until late, but had little chance against the CCAA's leading scorer.
Bakersfield closes the season Sunday against Cal Poly Pomona on the Main Soccer Field. San Bernardino (5–11–2, 4–9–2) could help the 'Runners clinch the CCAA SOuth Division title Sunday afternoon when it plays at Cal State L.A.
