PORTLAND, Ore. ? The CSUB men's soccer team couldn't complete the upset double it needed to capture the title at the Nike Portland Invitational Sunday, falling 5?1 in the championship match to No. 14 Washington in Portland.
Despite the final scoreline, the play of Roadrunner goalkeeper Steve Trojanowski was deemed so exceptional that he was named the defensive player of the tournament. Trojanowski made six saves Sunday to follow his 18?save performance in Friday's upset of the University of Portland.
“I can't say enough about the way Steve played this weekend,” said CSUB Head coach Simon Tobin. “With a few of our key defensive starters missing, we needed him to play superb soccer and he kept us in both matches until the end. He was well deserving of the defensive most outstanding player honor.”
Sunday's match, however, fell to the NCAA title contenders from Washington. UW's Kevin Forrest, the tournament most outstanding offensive player, led the way for the Huskies with a hat trick and an assist while Ely Allen added a brace of his own to complete the Huskies' scoring.
Junior forward Towa Manda led the Roadrunner offense, scoring his first goal of the young season.
The Huskies needed just 1:49 to get on the board as Forrest began what would become a hat trick afternoon with his first goal from the left side doorstep. Allen began his brace just 13 minutes later. Forrest needed just two additional minutes to make the UW advantage three goals.
Manda pulled a goal back for the 'Runners in the 30th minute, using his trademark pace to create a turnover into a breakaway that he finished from inside the penalty area.
“We had about 20 consecutive minutes of crisp play that included Towa's goal,” said Tobin. “I was very encouraged by our ability to go forward, but Washington is such an exceptional team and it was an uphill battle to try and get the second goal we needed.”
Down two goals, Bakersfield pushed forward at every opportunity and Trojanowski did his part to keep the deficit at two before Forrest finally iced the game with his third goal six minutes from time. Allen completed his brace in the 88th minute.
The Roadrunners return to Bakersfield for the 2007 home opener when they host Long Island University Thursday at 7 p.m.
