BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A pair of goals in the final 10 minutes of play led the CSUB men's soccer team to overcome two one-goal deficits and claim a 3-2 win over UC Riverside Friday on the Main Soccer Field.
The home-opening victory for the Roadrunners moved their record to 2-2-0 on the season while the Highlanders dropped to 0-3-0.
Robert Cate struck first for UCR, giving the visiting team a 1-0 lead at the 25:12 mark with a header off of a free kick by Tyler Wilson.
Nearly 20 minutes into the second half, Bakersfield seemed to gain the momentum and advantage when the Highlanders' Azeez Atanda was whistled for his second yellow card, putting UCR down a man for the remainder of the match. CSUB worked the ball to the front of the goal on a free kick and immediately drew a penalty kick opportunity when a Highlander defender was called for a hand ball in the box.
Alberto Navarro calmly slotted the ball into the right side of the net, tying the match, 1-1, at the 63:48 mark.
Despite playing with just 10 players to the 'Runners 11, the Highlanders immediately pressed forward following the PK and were rewarded with a goal by Joel Garcia with 23:35 remaining. Normando Mariscal slotted a ball up the right flank for Garcia, who collected it just inside the box and blasted a shot to the far post past the reach of CSUB keeper Eric Shannon.
Bakersfield responded at the 81:37 mark in the form of a rocket strike by Evan Fassler. Javier Barba sent a long ball up the right side to Fassler, who collected the ball near the top of the box and blasted a shot into the high, far-post netting, tying the score, 2-2.
The time the momentum stayed with the 'Runners as Justin Finch was credited with the game winner with just five minutes remaining. Ken Taylor played a short corner kick in to Matt Shaxton at the near post. Shaxton knocked the ball across the front of the goalmouth, Wayne Lampart sent it back into the mix and Finch completed the play by knocking the ball with his torso past Highlander goalkeeper Cody Suppe.
Bakersfield finished the match with a 14-9 shot advantage, including a 10-5 margin in the second half. Shannon made one save for CSUB while Suppe had five.
The Roadrunners will look to make it back-to-back wins on Sunday when they host Saint Mary's in a matinee 3 p.m. start on the Main Soccer Field.
UC Riverside (0-3-0) vs. CSU Bakersfield (2-2-0)
Date: Sep 11, 2009 Attendance: 272
Weather: clear, warm
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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UC Riverside........ 1 1 - 2
CSU Bakersfield..... 0 3 - 3
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 25:12 UCR Cate, Robert (1) (Wilson, Tyler) - header off free kick from the right corner of the box
2. 63:48 CSUB Alberto Navarro (1) Penalty kick
3. 66:25 UCR Garcia, Joel (1) (Mariscal, Normando) - quick strike far post from right side after thru ball
4. 81:37 CSUB Evan Fassler (1) (Javier Barba) - far post strike from right top corner of box
5. 84:54 CSUB Justin Finch (1) (Matt Shaxton;Wayne Lampart) - ball whipped across the goal, chested in
Shots: UC Riverside 9, CSU Bakersfield 14
Saves: UC Riverside 5 (Suppe, Cody 5), CSU Bakersfield 1 (Eric Shannon 1)
