BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Cal State Bakersfield women's soccer team picked up its biggest result of the season on Friday when it earned a 2-2 draw against No. 11 UC San Diego at the Main Soccer Field.
The draw against this top-15 nationally-ranked team was almost a win, though, as the Roadrunners held a 2-1 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the match. But a late goal from the Tritons sent the match into overtime and forced the draw.
With the draw, Bakersfield remains unbeaten at home in 2006 with a 3-0-2 record.
UC San Diego (7-1-1, 4-1-1 CCAA) opened the scoring in just the 12th minute. Amanda Esquivel sent a ball over the top of the defense where Ali Lai was waiting. While Lai appeared to be clearly offside, the assistant referee's flag stayed down and Lai had no problems beating Bakersfield goalkeeper Ashley Witten in a one-on-one situation for the 1-0 lead.
But Bakersfield came back to tie the match before the break. A corner kick by Hollie Affentranger was touched ahead by Holly Ambrecht to find Jackie Torvestad who slotted the ball past UC San Diego goalkeeper Jessica McGovern to level the score before half.
With the Tritons sending everything forward in the second half for the go-ahead goal, Bakersfield countered with one of its own. Elizabeth White kicked a ball simply to clear it out of the defense, but Taylar Sklar found her way onto the other end of it and beat McGovern on the one-on-one for the 2-1 lead.
Sklar's goal was her California Collegiate Athletic Association-leading 10th of the season.
UCSD hit the post twice in the second half but couldn't find the equalizer until the 90th minute when Chelsey Campbell crushed a shot from 30 yards into the upper corner with just 24 seconds showing on the clock to send the match into overtime.
UCSD outshot Bakersfield 34-18 in the match, including 5-3 in overtime, but no goals were scored and the match ended in a draw.
McGovern made three saves for the Tritons while Witten made 10 in goal for the Roadrunners.
Bakersfield returns to action on Sunday when it plays at noon against Cal State Dominguez Hills at the Main Soccer Field in the first half of a women's-men's doubleheader.
