ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –  The CSUB men's soccer team took the first step on the road to the postseason Sunday, and they took that step with the hands of goalkeeper Eric Shannon (Valencia HS).

Shannon made a career–high 10 saves to allow the Roadrunners to escape from Albuquerque with a scoreless draw against Mountain Division leader New Mexico. Shannon earned his seventh clean sheet of the season, matched his career–high by making his 62nd save of the season and lowered his goals against average to 0.74.

The tie keeps CSUB (9–3–3, 4–0–3 MPSF) as the lone unbeaten team in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. New Mexico moves to 7–4–3 and 4–2–1.

Combined with other results around the conference Sunday, the tie clinches a berth in the MPSF tournament for CSUB. The Roadrunners are the only team to clinch a berth so far.

“Getting four points on this road trip was huge,” says CSUB Assistant Coach Brad Williams. “Eric stepped up big on Friday (in a 2–1 win at UNLV) and he was huge again today, making some big saves to help us earn the draw.”

Shannon made his biggest stop with time winding down in the second overtime period. New Mexico's Michael Green took a pass in the box and hit a dangerous volley that Shannon parried out of danger for his 10th and final save.

“It doesn't get any bigger than the save Eric made at the end to keep it scoreless,” says Williams.

CSUB had its best chance to score at the end of regulation when junior midfielder Richard Menjivar (Panorama City/University of Evansville) carried the ball nearly half the field to create a one–on–one chance against Lobo keeper Justin Holmes. But Holmes came out and took the ball off Menjivar'stouch to prevent the shot that almost earned the Roadrunners all three points in dramatic fashion.

The Roadrunners hold an eight–point lead in the Pacific Division race on both Sacramento State and Seattle with nine points still in play. Winning the division would earn the 'Runners a first round bye in the MPSF Tournament.

CSUB returns to the friendly confines of the Main Soccer Field to play its final three regular season matches, beginning Friday against Denver at 5 p.m. The 'Runners also host Air Force (Oct. 29) and Seattle (Nov. 7) before heading to the MPSF Championship Tournament in Sacramento Nov. 11–14.

 Goals by period       1  2 OT O2  Tot
 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
 CSU Bakersfield.....  0  0  0  0 –  0
 New Mexico..........  0  0  0  0 –  0

 SCORING SUMMARY:

 Shots: CSU Bakersfield 6, New Mexico 21
 Saves: CSU Bakersfield 10 (Eric Shannon 10), New Mexico 1 (Justine Holmes 1)