RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The best start in the NCAA Division I era of CSUB men's soccer became the second best start in the program's history Thursday night as the 17th–ranked Roadrunners posted a convincing 3–0 victory at Big West Conference foe UC Riverside.
CSUB improved to 4–0–0 on the season; the first time since 1996 it has opened with four consecutive wins. Only the 1989 team, which opened 10–0–0, has done better.
“For us to be 4–0, playing what I believe is the most difficult schedule CSUB has ever played, is fantastic,” says CSUB Head Coach Simon Tobin. “This team, maybe more than any team I've coached, handles itself in such a professional manner.”
Coming off a 2–1 overtime loss at UCLA last week, UCR (2–3–0) figured to provide a stiff challenge. True to form, the match started with both teams feeling each other out through much of the first half. Things changed quickly in the 34th minute when sophomore Richard Menjivar (Panorama/Monroe HS/Univ. of Evansville) headed home the rebound of a Gyasi Zardes (Hawthorne/Leuzinger HS) shot on the goalline to give the 'Runners a 1–0 lead.
Zardes added a cushion just before the half when passes from Robbie Gouk (Renton, Wash./Hazen HS) and Ernesto Hinojosa (Tustin HS) freed him behind the Highlander defense and he blasted the ball home from eight yards for a 2–0 lead at the break.
The start of the second half saw the 'Runners continue to assert themselves. On the hour, Scott Luedtke's (Dallas, Texas/Pearce HS) run down the middle of the park beat the UCR trap. Jesus Sanchez (Chula Vista/Castle Park HS) drew the goalkeeper and Luedtke played his own deflection off a Highlander defender and in for his first collegiate goal.
“Once we got that third goal, I knew we were safe, but this team (UCR) battles very hard,” says Tobin. “If you look at the games they've lost this year, and I think most of the ones they lost last year, they've been one–goal games. I was more worried about this game than any of our first four.”
The Highlanders kept fighting and closed CSUB's shot advantage to 16–10 by game's end. Nevertheless, sophomore goalkeeper Eric Shannon (Valencia HS) made all three saves required of him to earn his third shutout in four starts this season.
CSUB continues its eight–match road trip Sunday afternoon, traveling to Moraga to take on 2009 NCAA Tournament qualifier Saint Mary's College.
CSUB Roadrunner Soccer
#17 CSU Bakersfield vs UC Riverside (Sep 16, 2010 at Riverside, Calif.)
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CSU Bakersfield (4-0-0) vs. UC Riverside (2-4-0)
Date: Sep 16, 2010 Attendance: 226
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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CSU Bakersfield..... 2 1 - 3
UC Riverside........ 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 33:06 CSUB Richard Menjivar (Gyasi Zardes) - shot 9 save header 8 right side
2. 40:02 CSUB Gyasi Zardes (Robbie Gouk;Ernesto Hinojosa) - 19 pass from midfield to 9 breakaway and goal
3. 60:30 CSUB Scott Luedtke (unassisted) - 6 shot save goalie 6 rebounds and score
Shots: CSU Bakersfield 16, UC Riverside 10
Saves: CSU Bakersfield 3 (Eric Shannon 3), UC Riverside 6 (Nick Goldreich, 6)
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