BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — It was a tale of two halves for the CSUB men's soccer team Sunday. After giving up a goal just seven minutes into the match, the Roadrunners rallied with a late second-half goal and eventually took a 1-1 draw against Saint Mary's on the CSUB Main Soccer Field.
Bakersfield moved to 2-2-1 on the season while the Gaels have yet to concede a loss and are now 2-0-2 overall.
The Gaels dominated play from the opening whistle and CSUB spent most of the first half fending off attack after attack in their own end. Just under seven minutes in Erik Rivas connected his head on a cross from Jason Coehlo. The shot bounced off the cross bar to the far side of the goal where Justin Grinder was able to head in down into the open net.
Saint Mary's had seven shots to CSUB's two in the opening period, forcing the 'Runners to look hard at making adjustments for the second half.
Enter Oscar Coppieters and Jesus Sanchez into the central midfield for the remainder of the game, and the pace quickly changed for CSUB. With possession more equally spread, the 'Runners were able to tie the score at the 69:35 mark, courtesy a strike by freshman Evan Fassler.
Bakersfield worked the ball out of the back with a nice combination of passes through the center of the pitch. In the final third, Matt Shaxton sent a through ball up to Fassler. The Gaels' goalkeeper Doug Herrick came out to break up the play, but mishandled the ball. Fassler quickly touched the ball to his right and struck it into the open net.
CSUB nearly completed the comeback in regulation as Joe Polifroni sent a long, lofting shot towards the Gaels' goal in the final seconds. But Herrick was just able to tip it over the crossbar before time expired, forcing the extra periods.
In overtime, each team tallied a pair of shots, but neither was able to find the back of the net through the full 110 minutes.
Herrick finished with six saves for the Gaels, while CSUB's Eric Shannon made four saves.
The Roadrunners continue non-conference action this week, traveling to Charlotte, N.C., for the UNCC/Nike Invitational. They will face host UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
Saint Mary's (2-0-2) vs. CSU Bakersfield (2-2-1)
Date: Sep 13, 2009 Attendance: 115
Weather: sunny, clear, beezy
Goals by period 1 2 OT O2 Tot
-------------------------------------
Saint Mary's........ 1 0 0 0 - 1
CSU Bakersfield..... 0 1 0 0 - 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 6:39 SMC GRIDER, Justin (2) (RIVAS, Erik;COEHLO, Jason) - Header off rebound off crossbar
2. 69:35 CSUB Evan Fassler (2) (Matt Shaxton) - thru ball misplayed by keeper, shot in open goal
Shots: Saint Mary's 14, CSU Bakersfield 11
Saves: Saint Mary's 6 (HERRICK, Doug 6), CSU Bakersfield 5 (Eric Shannon 4; TEAM 1)
