BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? The CSUB men's soccer team made a valiant battle back from a 1-0 deficit, and played a man down the final 17 minutes, but was unable to finish the job in a 2-1 overtime lost to The Master's College Tuesday on The Main Soccer Field.
Both teams got off to a slow start, struggling to work the ball into the final third of the field throughout the first half. The Mustangs managed five shots in the half, while Bakersfield created just a pair of opportunities.
The Master's College (7-0-2 overall) broke the scoreless drought first, striking in the 56th minute of play on a goal by Jacob Marchesani. The sophomore midfielder collected a long cross from the right wing, beat a CSUB defender and sent a right-footed shot from the left side of the box into the far post.
Bakersfield (3-11-0 overall) was slow to respond until the 81st minute when midfielder Manny Guzman was sent off the field after receiving a red card for a hard tackle near the midfield.
Forced to play a man down for the remainder of the match, the ?Runners showed a sense of urgency, pushing forward and finding the equalizer at the 84:23 mark.
Javier Barba set the play outside the left side of the box, sending a long free kick towards the far post. Matt Shaxton won the lose ball in the air, heading it back across the net where Towa Manda rushed forward, heading the ball into the net.
Nearly seven minutes into the first golden-goal overtime period, Marlon Lindo netted his team-leading fifth goal of the season for the Mustangs when his chipped shot from eight yards out deflected off a CSUB defender and the left post before finding the back of the net.
Bakersfield finished the match with seven shots and earned five corner kicks, but were unable to generate any solid shot opportunities from the set pieces. CSUB keeper Steve Trojanowski made eight saves on the Mustangs' 15 shots.
CSUB will take a much-needed break from action, returning to The Main Soccer Field on Oct. 18 for a 7 p.m. match-up against the ?Runner alumni. The team returns to collegiate action Oct. 25 at UC Riverside.
