LOS ANGELES, Calif.--No. 20 CSU Bakersfield won a pair of matches on the opening day of the Loyola Marymount Invitational Friday afternoon.
The Roadrunners defeated Pomona-Pitzer 12-8 in the opener. The Sagehens are ranked second in the current CPWA Division III poll. Jessica Browning (Jr., Lake Forest, Calif., El Toro HS), the current KAP7/WWPA Co-Player of the Week, recorded a hat trick. Sam Shead (Jr., Johannesburg, South Africa, Rand Park HS) scored two goals and dished out four assists.
Shannon McKenzie (R-Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Rancho Cucamonga HS) also tallied four assists to go along with a goal. Janelle Shelby (Fr., San Diego, Calif., Grossmont HS) and Paige Tsuruda (So., Honolulu, Hawaii, Word of Life Academy) both scored two goals. Alex Bayer (Fr., Alta Loma, Calif., Los Osos HS) got the start in goal and made 10 saves.
“It was a nice win to start off the tournament,” said CSUB head coach Jason Gall. “We missed some opportunities early on but, we finished strong in the fourth quarter.”
Shead's goal with 1:02 remaining in the fourth quarter capped off a CSUB comeback as the Roadrunners defeated Pacific 9-8 in the nightcap. CSUB trailed 6-4 at halftime, tying the match 7-7 after three. Amanda Nesbit (Jr., Chino Hills, Calif., Chino Hills HS) put the 'Runners up by one with 3:02 to go before Taylor Adair tied it for the sixth time in the match at the 1:44 mark, setting up Shead's gamewinner on the ensuing CSUB possession. Pacific had a 6-on-5 advantage with 48 seconds remaining, but the Roadrunners were able to kill the penalty, get the stop, and run out the clock.
Shead posted three goals. Nesbit scored two goals. Browning had three assists, drew three exclusions, and two penalty shots. Bayer registered a season best 14 saves.
"We had a great second half defensively," said Gall. "We had some nice field blocks and great goalie saves."
The Roadrunners face two WWPA opponents Saturday in Sonoma State (1 p.m.) and Cal State San Bernardino (4:45 p.m.) conclude the tournament.
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