BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? Freshman Kassi Massey recorded her third goal of the season against Pepperdine, but the ?Runners fell to the Waves, 2?1, on the Main Soccer Field Wednesday evening. Pepperdine improves to 5?6?2 while the ?Runners drop to 4?10?1.
Massey's goal came in the 22nd minute on a great individual effort. The freshman pressured the Pepperdine defense as it tried to set up its offense deep in its own zone. Massey deflected a clearing kick from a defender and had the ball bounce straight down to her. As she dribbled into the right box, Massey lifted a shot up over top of Pepperdine's keeper Kayla Stolte to put the ?Runners up, 1?0.
The Waves' Ashley Copp got her second goal of the year in the 41st minute on a free kick. Amanda Rupp took a corner for Pepperdine in the 56th minute and connected with Cammie Burke to extend the lead to 2?1.
CSUB fought back and had a few good chances late in the game before the Waves took the ball to the corner to run the clock out. With 6:30 left, Massey went in search of her fourth goal of the season as she blasted a ball from the left side of the box. It took an athletic jump and well timed punchout by Stolte to lift the ball out of play up over the goal. Two minutes later the ?Runners got a corner kick but the Sarah Gaskins effort was smothered by Stolte.
Freshman keeper Marina Constantinou finished with four saves before sophomore Briana Estolano replaced her in the 60th minute. Estolano made two saves to keep the game at 2?1. Stolte finished with five saves for Pepperdine.
“I am very pleased with how we played tonight,” Head Coach Nicole Van Dyke said after the game. “I thought we were dynamic going forward and solid defensively. Hopefully we can go on and attack our last four games. Massey's effort for us was very impressive. She hustled and gave us a great chance to tie the game in the closing minutes.”
In an effort to support breast cancer awareness, the Roadrunners sported pink jerseys that were auctioned off at a silent auction that took place during the match. Proceeds from the auction will go to help fight breast cancer.
In one week, the ?Runners will take to the field again as they travel to San Jose to battle the Spartans at 5 p.m.
