August 19, 2006
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A freshman and a pair of sophomores scored for Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday to give the Roadrunners a 3-0 victory over three solid groups of alumni teams at the Main Soccer Field.
Mike Esparza (Bakersfield, Calif./Ridgeview HS) had a goal and an assist to pace the new-look Roadrunners, who showed some significant offensive possibilities throughout the match.
In a unique format, three different groups of alumni teams each played for 30 minutes against the current Roadrunners, with the 2000-05 group playing first. CSUB outscored the most recent alumni 2-0 and added a third goal against the alumni that played from 1987-94. The 1995-99 team - which consisted of players who earned the NCAA Division II title in 1997 - played the current CSUB squad to a 0-0 draw.
Esparza, a freshman, was the catalyst of a scoring outburst at the end of the first 30-minute period. He knocked the ball into an open net after Lyle Martin (Bakersfield, Calif./Stockdale HS) got behind the defense but had his shot saved by alumni goalkeeper Casey Liddle. But the ball deflected to the feet of Esparza who easily tapped the ball home for the goal.
He then assisted Towa Manda (Fountain Valley, Calif./Fountain Valley HS) just two minutes later to take a 2-0 lead.
Ryan Gay (Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos HS) scored an unassisted goal in the 64th minute after alumni goalkeeper Mike Jordan came well off his line to try to beat Gay to the ball, but Gay beat him and scored into the open net.
Despite the 3-0 win, the alumni actually outshot CSUB 17-16, including an 8-4 advantage in the final 30 minutes when the 1987-94 alumni actually had the better of play while head coach Simon Tobin emptied his bench and tried new combinations of players.
Steve Trojanowski (La Verna, Calif./Damien HS) and Steve Merriweather (Torrance, Calif./L.A. Harbor College) combined for seven saves in the shutout.
CSUB opens its 2006 season next Saturday in a doubleheader against The Master's College at the Main Soccer Field. The men kick off at 5 p.m. with the women playing at 7 p.m.
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
|
Final |
| Alumni |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
| CSUB |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
3 |
California State University, Bakersfield Athletic Department
9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022
Phone: (661) 654-3071 • FAX: (661) 654-2376
