SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - It might have taken overtime, but the Cal State Bakersfield women's soccer team picked up its first California Collegiate Athletic Association win on Sunday when the Roadrunners topped Cal State San Bernardino 2-1 at Premier Field.
The Roadrunners (4-3-2, 1-3-1 CCAA) had opened the season at 3-0-1 but had gone 0-3-1 in the first four matches of the CCAA season, which happened to all come on the road. But Bakersfield completed the five-match, 10-day road trip with this dramatic winner in San Bernardino to propel the Roadrunners to their first conference win under new Head Coach Nicole Van Dyke.
But the win didn't come easy against a game Cal State San Bernardino (1-6-0, 0-5-0 CCAA) side. In fact, the Roadrunners had to come from behind in order to earn the win.
After a scoreless first half, the Coyotes actually jumped on the board first when Melissa Castillo scored on a cross from Terina Dillon in the 65th minute to put Bakersfield against the ropes with less than 25 minutes remaining in the match.
The Roadrunners came right back and scored less than three minutes later to force the extra time. Nisha Chawla scored the equalizer — the second goal of her young career — when she shot in a rebound of a shot from Taylar Sklar that hit the cross bar.
The score remained tied through the first 90 minutes and extra time was required. But less than four minutes into the second extra period, Deena Plach scored her first goal of the season on a cross from Jackie Torvestad to end the match and give Bakersfield the win.
Bakersfield goalkeeper Ashley Witten made two saves and allowed just the one goal in the win while San Bernardino goalkeeper Shawna-Rei Kam made five saves but allowed both goals in the loss.
The Roadrunners outshot San Bernardino 11-8 overall, including 6-3 in the second half.
Bakersfield returns home after the long road trip on Friday when the Roadrunners host UC San Diego at 4:30 p.m. in the first half of a women's-men's doubleheader.