Late Goal Lifts Women?s Soccer to Win Over Eastern Washington

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Freshman Sam Peña (Bakersfield HS) provided the last second heroics Friday evening on the Main Soccer Field, scoring in the 86th minute to lift the CSUB women's soccer team to a 1–0 win over the Eastern Washington Eagles. The goal was Peña's team–leading third strike of the season. The victory moves CSUB to 4–3–0 on the year and 4–1–0 at home. Eastern Washington drops to 2–4–0 with the loss. CSUB outshot the Eagles, 13–8.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the first half as CSUB held a slim 6–5 advantage in shots. The Roadrunners had a few chances, earning three corner kicks in the half but were unable to capitalize.

In the second half, the defenses continued to limit chances on both sides of the ball. In the 75th minute, junior Alexandria Ngo (Sacramento/Sacramento State) slotted a nice ball in the box to a streaking Daisy Vazquez (Redwood City/Woodside HS). The freshman striker got a touch on the ball but it was not enough as the Eastern Washington keeper was able to control it.

With both teams searching for scoring opportunities late in the game, sophomore defender Jamie Havelin (Valencia/Saugus HS) sent a ball in from just inside the midfield stripe. The ball took a big bounce and Peña was there waiting for it. The freshman timed the pass and in one smooth motion, elevated off the ground and stuck the ball to the inside far post for her third goal of the season. In the dying minutes, the Eagles would make one more push forward and would even earn a corner kick as time ran out.

Sophomore Kym Gause (Manteca/Modesto JC) made three saves and had a number of nice breakups in the box to earn her second clean slate of the season.

“It took us a while tonight but we got our goal and right now a win is a win,” Head Coach Nicole Van Dyke said. “I thought we did a great job of pressing forward and Sam stepped up and got us a goal. I thought Daisy played excellent tonight. She got up the field and really put pressure on the defense. We now have to get our focus ready for our game on Sunday against Fresno State.”

CSUB will make the 90 minute drive north to face the Fresno State Bulldogs on Sunday at 6 p.m. Fresno State is the defending Western Athletic Conference champion. The game will decide the winner of the 2009 Valley Cup, a trophy given to the winning program. CSUB won last season's meeting, 2–1, on the Main Soccer Field.

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