BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - For 74 minutes, Friday night's men's soccer match followed the script the Roadrunners hoped for in quest for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Pacific Division title.

Two late Denver University goals spoiled, but didn't prevent, CSUB's coronation as Pacific Division champs, however, as the Pioneers struck late for a 2-1 win on the CSUB Main Soccer Field.

Thanks to Seattle University's 2-1 loss to Air Force and Sacramento State's 0-0 tie with New Mexico, the 'Runners still wrapped up the Division crown, standing seven points clear of Sacramento and eight clear of Seattle with six points still in play. And, while the 'Runners were happy to earn the title-and first round bye in the MPSF Tournament that accompanies it-they certainly would have preferred the storybook way they nearly accomplished the feat on their own.

CSUB controlled the run of play for most of the first hour. The Denver defense bent but didn't break, allowing the 'Runners possession but few dangerous chances.

Still, CSUB had a golden opportunity to take the lead just before half when Jesus Sanchez got behind the Denver defense and beat Pioneer goalkeeper Joe Willis to the ball. Willis took Sanchez down in the box, earning CSUB its first penalty kick of the season.

Defender Alberto Navarro (Delano HS) tapped the spot kick to the left post, but Willis guess correctly and easily corralled the attempt to keep the match scoreless at the interval.

For all its territorial advantage, the 'Runners finally broke through thanks to an amazing individual effort by freshman forward Gyasi Zardes (Hawthorne/Leuzinger HS). Alone up top after the Pioneers caused a scramble at the top of the CSUB box, Zardes won a long clearance from Ernesto Hinojosa (Tustin HS) near midfield between three Denver defenders.

Zardes carried the ball around, between and through all three defenders, beating them 30 yards into the Pioneer box where he beat Willis for his third of the season and a 1-0 CSUB lead.

Denver didn't take long to answer, with Alex Tarnoczi cleaning up after a scramble in the box less than three minutes of Zardes' strike. Six minutes from time, the Pioneers struck in more conventional fashion when Mark Weigand headed home a Michael Perry cross for what proved to be the match winner.

CSUB returns to the Main Soccer Field Sunday when Air Force visits for a 1 p.m. kickoff. A CSUB win, coupled with a New Mexico loss or tie at San Jose State, will clinch the No. 1 seed in the MPSF Tournament for the 'Runners.

The 'Runners conclude the 2010 regular season Nov. 7 with a home match against Seattle.