BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? The CSUB women's soccer team lost its best player to injury early then gave up two quick goals and the match as UC Santa Barbara earned a 3?0 victory Thursday night on the CSUB Main Soccer Field in Bakersfield.
Junior midfielder Moriah Neville, one of only three upperclassmen on the Bakersfield roster, went down with a leg injury in a clean tackle in the 12th minute. The extent of the injury wasn't known Thursday night, but she did not return and the Roadrunners did not recover from the loss of their most versatile player.
UCSB took quick advantage, opening the scoring less than two minutes after Neville's departure. Sami Svrcek intercepted a failed clearance attempt at the top of the CSUB box and fed Brooke Salyer on the left wing. Salyer's quick, accurate cross found Michelle Russell at the far post and the junior forward easily buried her first goal of the season.
The Gauchos took advantage of another turnover eight minutes later when Katrina Wright intercepted an errant pass 35 yards from goal and slipped a short through ball to Romy Barber. Barber beat Roadrunner goalkeeper Nicole Padilla one-on-one and UCSB never looked back.
While the Santa Barbara offense built its first?half lead, the composed Gaucho defense left little for senior goalkeeper Katie Wright to do in the match. Wright made one save but wasn't tested while earning her third shutout of the season.
Padilla, however, was tested throughout the match as the Gauchos outshot the 'Runners 15?3 while putting 11 shots on frame. Padilla made eight saves, including a gutsy effort when she stoned Russell from point blank range in the 60th minute. She couldn't control the rebound from the venomous shot, however, and Kailyn Kugler pounced on the doorstep to score her second collegiate goal.
CSUB (2?5?0 overall) hits the road again this weekend to begin a five?match roadtrip. The trip begins Saturday at the University of the Pacific. The 'Runners won't return home until Oct. 12 when they host Houston Baptist University in a men's/women's doubleheader.
UCSB (2?3?2) returns home to host San Diego State Sunday at 6 p.m.
