PORTLAND, Ore. ? Playing in front of one of the largest regular season crowds (2,658) ever to witness a CSUB men's soccer match might have been a bit intimidating, but the Roadrunners eventually found their footing and, ultimately, a shocking victory in a 2?1 upset of the University of Portland Friday night in Portland.
It was CSUB's debutante performance as an NCAA Division I soccer program, and it couldn't have gone any better for the Roadrunners, who overcame and early Portland goal to win in extra time. Sophomore forward Mike Esparza (Ridgeview HS) scored the match?winner nine minutes into overtime, taking a quick feed from freshman Alberto Navarro on the counter attack and finishing from 16 yards out.
“With the atmosphere, the large crowd and the high level of competition, tonight was what we envisioned when made the move to Division I,” said CSUB Head Coach Simon Tobin. “They are a very good team and we had to take some pressure, but we also created some marvoulous chances and couldn't be more pleased with the result.”
It didn't look like the night would have a happy ending for the 'Runners, who were out?shot 13?5 in the opening period and 31?13 for the match. Bryan Irwin scored from just inside the box in the ninth minute to give the Pilots a 1?0 lead. Portland kept the pressure up through halftime, but Bakersfield goalkeeper Steve Trojanowski kept his team in it until the offense found a groove in the second half.
“Steve was definitely man of the match,” said Tobin. “You take his performance in the spring against (NCAA Champion) UC Santa Barbara and then the effort he gave tonight and you can see he is developing into one of the top goalkeepers in the country.”
Halftime proved to be the critical juncture for the 'Runners. A few motivational words from Tobin helped create the spark that led to the offensive outburst in the second half.
“I told the boys at halftime that they could play with a bit more abandon,” said Tobin. “I believe that was the turning point ? that we were able to take their pressure and then come through that to apply some pressure of our own.”
Trojanowski made 18 saves, to keep it a one?goal game until freshman Robbie Gouk tied the score at 1?1 with a 25?yard blast to the lower left corner. The match stayed tied until Esparza played the role of hero in extra time.
Bakersfield concludes play at the Nike Portland Invitational against No. 14 Washington Sunday at noon. The Huskies played New Hampshire to a scoreless draw in the opening match Friday.
