?Runners Are Headed to the MPSF Championship

SACRAMENTO – Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Newcomer of the Year, Gyasi Zardes, led the second–seeded CSUB men's soccer team to a 2–0 win over third–seeded New Mexico in the MPSF semifinal on Friday afternoon in Sacramento.

The Roadrunners came out flying in the first half as freshman forward Gyasi Zardes (Hawthorn, Calif./ Leuzinger HS) capitalized on CSUB's first shot of the game. Zardes ripped a shot from 20 yards out which beat New Mexico goalkeeper Justin Holmes low and to the far post to put the 'Runners ahead by one just nine minutes in.

New Mexico threatened the tying goal a few minutes later, however, CSUB goalkeeper Eric Shannon (Valencia, Calif./Valencia HS) came up with the save. Zardes had two close chances in the final minutes of the first half, highlighted by a foot race in which Zardes out ran the New Mexico backline but Holmes came off of his line just in time to clear the loose ball before Zardes could reach it. With that stop, the Roadrunners took a 1–0 lead into halftime.

Almost mirroring its first half effort, CSUB once again got out to a quick start in the second half, finding the back of the net seven minutes in. Junior midfielder Richard Menjivar (Panorama, Calif./Evansville) found Zardes open in front of the goal and Zardes finished the ball to the far post for his second goal of the game, putting the Roadrunners ahead two goals to nil.

New Mexico's best chance to get on the board came late in the second half when forward Matt Armstrong blasted a shot from outside the box, however, it was blocked by CSUB senior defender Alberto Navarro (Delano, Calif./Delano HS). Despite being outshot 4–1 in the second half, the 'Runners held on for the 2–0 win.

New Mexico finished the game with eight shots to the 'Runners seven while the Lobos also took the only two corner kicks of the game. Both Shannon and Holmes finished with one save apiece.

With the win, the 'Runners now advance to the MPSF Championship game, where they will meet the winner of the second semifinal between Sacramento State and Denver.

CSUB head coach Simon Tobin was pleased with his team's result over New Mexico.

“Beating a program like New Mexico in the semifinals is a good result for us,” said Tobin. “They are an elite program who was a National Runner–up four years ago and a win against them says a lot about where our program is right now.”

The MPSF Championship kicks–off at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 14, in Sacramento. The MPSF Tournament Champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and if the Roadrunners prevail, it would mark the first–ever NCAA post season bid for a CSUB team at the Division I level.

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