Women's Soccer August 22, 2009 CSU Bakersfield Athletic Communications

Pe?a Lifts Women?s Soccer to Victory over UC Riverside, 1?0

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - In her first game as a Roadrunner, freshman Sam Peña (Bakersfield HS) tallied the only strike as the CSUB women's soccer team defeated the UC Riverside Highlanders, 1–0, Friday evening on the Main Soccer Field. Peña led all players with three shots and scored in the 50th minute to give the Roadrunners the victory. CSUB (1-0-0) outshot UC Riverside (0-1-0), 10–7.

Freshman Daisy Vazquez (Redwood City/Woodside HS) had a breakaway opportunity in the 12th minute of action as she made a run through the box. She got past the defender that was marking her and got off a shot that went just wide of the goal.

The only other scoring opportunity in the first half came midway through as Peña created some space at the top of the box, moved to the right past a line of defenders and fired a shot that sailed just to the left of the goal as the teams remained tied, 0–0, at the break.

After the intermission, Peña got another chance, this time capitalizing on a loose ball at the top of the Highlander box. She made a quick move to her left and fired a shot past UCR's keeper Jessica White and into the top left corner of the goal.

Later in the half, it was junior Sarah Gaskins (El Cajon/Valhalla HS) who started a breakout as she found Vazquez up the left sideline. Vazquez played a ball to the center of the box to freshman Kiri Christensen (Valby, Denmark) who made a quick touch pass to Peña who's shot was blocked at the last second, setting up a corner kick.

Peña sparked one more CSUB run out as the 'Runners went in search of an insurance marker. Peña found some space in the midfield and sent a ball over the Highlanders' back line, looking for Veronica Ramos (Walnut HS) who had made a break for the goal. However, the pass ran just long and the White made the stop for UCR.

The Roadrunner defenders kept pressure off sophomore Kym Gause (Manteca/Modesto JC) all night with a solid performance. Sophomore Jamie Havelin (Valencia/Saugus HS), freshman Brittany Thomas (Bakersfield/Ridgeview HS), junior Tara Corcoran (La Verne/Cerritos JC), Gaskins and freshman Raquel Gervas (Upland HS) limited the Highlanders to just one shot on net, that coming in the first half of play which was easily handled by Gause. Riverside pressured the back line all evening and each time, the CSUB defense held strong including a last minute corner kick which Gervas sent out to midfield to help secure the victory. Gause made a handful of nice breakups on crosses and set pieces to earn the shutout.

“I am very happy with the win,” said Head Coach Nicole Van Dyke. “More importantly am excited about the way our team played tonight. They were solid from start to finish and I believe that if we can take this and really build off it, we are going to have a lot more wins to follow this one,”

This marks the second year in a row that CSUB has opened its season with a win at home. Last year, Ramos scored in double overtime to give the 'Runners a 2–1 victory over the University of Idaho.

CSUB will face preseason No. 13 ranked San Diego on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Main Soccer Field. For information on season tickets, call (661) 654–BLUE or log on to GoRunners.com.

Print Friendly Version