'Runners Pull Comeback on Titans; Win Match in Overtime, 2?1

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? Freshman Kassi Massey (Stockdale HS) scored in the 94th minute to break a 1?1 tie as the CSUB Roadrunners defeated the Cal State Fullerton Titans 2?1 in overtime during a Saturday afternoon exhibition on the Main Soccer Field. Sophomore Sarah Gaskins (El Cajon/Valhalla HS) added a goal in the the 66th minute to help the ?Runners pull the comeback, after being down 1?0 at halftime.

“We are very excited about the win but at the same time we can't get too high about it,” Head Coach Nicole Van Dyke said. “We need to stay nice and balanced and find a way to use this to kick?start our season next week. It was great seeing our team score those goals and we are all looking forward to building off this performance.”

With less than four minutes passed in the extra frame, Massey received the ball at the top of the Fullerton box, made a quick move to her right and beat goalkeeper Shannon Simpson to the left side of the goal. The effort by the first?year forward capped a strong performance by the ?Runners, who held strong against the defending Big West Champion Titans all afternoon.

Gaskins goal was a perfectly placed shot to the upper right hand corner of the goal from the left side of the box. The ball curved back across the goaline, just past the outstreached arms of Simpson. Gaskins created a few other scoring opportunites in the second half but was unable to capitalize. She finished with a team high four shots.

The Titans struck first with a goal in the 14th minute off a header by Claudia Munoz. Teammate Jenae Gibbens, who utilized her very long throw in from the far sideline, connected with Munoz as she beat CSUB goalkeeper Marina Constantinou (Saugus/Saugus HS) to the top left corner.

Simpson finished with seven saves for the Titans and Constantinou had five. The ?Runners held a 12?11 edge in shots, including the only two in overtime.

CSUB officially kicks off its season Friday with a home contest against the University of Idaho. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. on the Main Soccer Field.

~ GoRunners.com ~

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