SEATTLE, Wash - CSU Bakersfield opened its 2010 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation campaign on Sunday afternoon on a positive note after a 1-0 victory on the road at Seattle University thanks to a beautiful header by Justin Finch (Bakersfield, Calif./Southwest Baptist) late in an otherwise evenly matched game.

Finch's goal, his first of the 2010 season, was set up by a free kick taken by Ken Taylor (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces HS). Finch worked his way past the Redhawk (2-5-2, 0-1-0 MPSF) defense and found himself unmarked when he redirected the ball into the net for the lone goal of the match. CSUB improved to 6-3-0 and 1-0-0 in MPSF play with the win.

"It was a superb goal," CSUB head coach Simon Tobin said. "We have to start conference play with three away matches and we've already been on the road for the last six games. To start conference on the toughest field in the conference and come away with three points is fantastic."

CSUB outshot the Redhawks 14-10, but really put the pressure on in the second half while outshooting Seattle 9-3. Goalkeeper Eric Shannon (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) made three saves for his fourth clean sheet of the season.

"My goal is to make it to the MPSF championships," Tobin said. "That's all I care about, not rankings or anything else, and this is a very good start."

The Roadrunners will look to make it two in a row early on in MPSF on Friday when they travel to Sacramento State on Friday for a 1:30 p.m. matchup.

Game Summary -- CSU Bakersfield vs Seattle University (Oct 03, 2010 at Seattle, Wash.)

 CSU Bakersfield (6-3-0, 1-0-0 MPSF) vs. Seattle (2-5-2, 0-1-0 MSPF)

 Date: Oct 03, 2010  Attendance: 632

 Weather: Overcast

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot

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 CSU Bakersfield.....  0  1 -  1

 Seattle University..  0  0 -  0

 SCORING SUMMARY:

  1.  77:45 CSUB Justin Finch (Ken Taylor) - Finch header on free kick

 Shots: CSU Bakersfield 14, Seattle 10

 Saves: CSU Bakersfield 3 (Eric Shannon 3), Seattle 4 (Ivan Dizdar 4)