BAKERSFIELD, Calif. –  The CSUB men's soccer team put itself in the driver's seat for the best record in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with a 3–0 win over Air Force Sunday afternoon on the Main Soccer Field.

Sunday's affair featured the top two teams in MPSF play, with both sitting on 15 points entering the match. CSUB (10–4–3, 5–1–3 MPSF) had already clinched the Pacific Division title and a first round by in the MPSF Championship Tournament. Sunday's loss knocks Air Force (7–10–0, 5–4–0) out of a shot at the No. 1 seed. CSUB can clinch the No. 1 seed with a win next Sunday versus Seattle among other scenarios.

Sunday's win was about finishing the chances the Roadrunners couldn't put away in Friday's loss to Denver. That the 'Runners didn't finish all of their chances Sunday was as more a function of volume than level of play.

After the CSUB defense absorbed a smattering of pressure in the opening minutes, junior defender Chris Widdy (San Pedro HS) moved forward to finish off a superb corner kick from Jesus Sanchez (Chula Vista HS) midway through the first half. Sanchez's service found Widdy unmolested inside the six yard box, making a formality of the finish.

The 'Runners had a great chance to double their advantage two minutes later when Sanchez slipped a short through ball into the box forcing the Falcon defense to take down Keeyan Ghazanfarpour (Duvall, Wash./CSU Stanislaus) in the penalty area and earn a spot kick. But Air Force goalkeeper Patrick Gould guessed correctly and tapped Sanchez's effort just outside the post to keep it a one goal game at the half.

The second half, however, was all CSUB. The 'Runners came out buzzing, peppering the Falcon goal with nine shots inside the first 10 minutes. Richard Menjivar (Panorama City/Univ. of Evansville) rang one off the crossbar, Gyasi Zardes (Hawthorne/Leuzinger HS) had a sure goal picked off the line and Falcon defenders blocked four other attempts before the 'Runners finally broke through the in the 56th minute.

Sanchez cleanly picked off a clearance attempt about 30 yards from goal and split two defenders to reach the top of the box. Gould came off his line to challenge, but he could prevent Sanchez's sure finish for his eighth goal of the season.

CSUB kept the heat on the Falcons, running their shot advantage to 22–5 by the time Peter Carlson (Boras, Sweden) finished a short feed from Zardes to notch his first of the season in the 74th minute.

“It was good to convert our opportunities today,” says CSUB Head Coach Simon Tobin. “That's what cost us Friday. We are excited to play next Sunday for the MPSF regular season champion. To be in this position is a huge accomplishment.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Eric Shannon (Valencia HS) made two stops to earn his eight clean sheet of the season., lowering his goals against average to 0.77 in the process.

CSUB closes the regular season Sunday, Nov. 7 with a match against Seattle University at 1 p.m. on the Main Soccer Field. The 'Runners will then head to Sacramento for the MPSF Championship Tournament Nov. 11–14. They have already earned a first round bye and will play their first match on Nov. 12.

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------
 Air Force...........  0  0 -  0
 CSU Bakersfield.....  1  2 -  3

 SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  29:28 CSUB Chris Widdy (1) (Jesus Sanchez) - Header off corner
  2.  55:39 CSUB Jesus Sanchez (8) (unassisted) - Stole ball 30 yds from goal
  3.  73:15 CSUB Peter Carlson (1) (Gyasi Zardes) - Short thru ball to top of box

 Shots: Air Force 7, CSU Bakersfield 22
 Saves: Air Force 6 (Patrick Gould 5; TEAM 1), CSU Bakersfield 2 (Eric Shannon 2)