BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--The Bakersfield men's soccer team returns to the Main Soccer Field for the first time since Sept. 27 this weekend for a pair of matches.
The Roadrunners host San José State Friday night at 7 p.m.. Bakersfield defeated San José State in a shootout 4-3 last Friday in San Jose. The difference turned out to be a goal in the 28th minute. The Roadrunners' Joe Masumiya (R-Jr., Lakewood, Calif., Lakewood HS) scored off a free kick from just outside the 18. His shot went over the San José State wall and found the back of the net, past Felix Petermann. It was the first of two goals for Masumiya on the night.
The Spartans struck first in the second half, scoring on a Frankie Beauchamp penalty just 2:11 in the closing frame. A little over 90 seconds later. Masumiya had another free kick, at a sharp angle, which he scored high to the far post, putting Bakersfield (3-6-1, 1-1-0) back ahead 2-1. At the 50:56 mark, Colton Portela got the equalizer, his first collegiate goal. Israel Ayala took a shot from just outside the six, which Roadrunner keeper Nicolas Clever (Fr., Cologne, Germany, Gesamtschule Kuerten) stopped, but didn't control. The rebound came right to Portela who tucked it inside the post for a 2-2 score.
Christian Duarte (So., Houston, Texas, Clear Springs HS) would put the 'Runners up 3-2 with his first goal of the year in the 57th minute. Just under seven minutes later Scott Luedtke (R-Sr., Dallas, Texas, Pearce HS) would make it 4-2 in favor of Bakersfield. Rory Knibbs scored at 78:53 to make it the final 4-3.
CSUB outshot the Spartans 28-12 and held a 11-0 corner kick advantage. Masumiya had a career high eight shots. San José State equaled its goal total for the season with its tallies against the 'Runners. The Roadrunners broke a 375-minute scoreless draught with Masumiya's first goal.
The Roadrunners host Seattle U Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. the 'Runners and Redhawks played to a 2-2 draw last Sunday in Seattle. CSUB got on the board first when David Valasquez (R-Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., Locke HS) netted his third of the season in the game's fifth minute unassisted finding the top right corner of the net to give Bakersfield the 1-0 lead.
Seattle would respond in the 25th minute when a Hanza Haddadi cross found Miguel Gonzalez. His shot beat Bakersfield goalkeeper Anthony Perez (R-So., Fontana, Calif., Bloomington HS) who came out of the box on the play to tie the match 1-1. In the second half it was another scoring frenzy as the Roadrunners took a brief 2-1 lead following a free kick by Giovanni Godoy (Fr., Watsonville, Calif., Watsonville HS) that was put in by Manny Carrillo (Fr., San Diego, Calif., Patrick Henry HS) who scored his first goal for the 'Runners from 16 feet out. That lead lasted about two minutes before CSUB fouled Gonzalez who scored his second goal of the match on a penalty kick in the 71st minute.
In the 86th minute a heads-up defensive play by Kyle Bjornethun kept the match tied after Godoy's shot beat Seattle goalkeeper Jake Feener who came out to challenge the play. Bjornethun was able to kick the ball out of the box before it crossed into the net to keep the match tied 2-2 at the end of regulation. In the first overtime, the Roadrunners and Redhawks played evenly matched with both teams coming up with scoring opportunities, CSUB's Perez managed a pair of saves in the first extra frame while Bakersfield had a header opportunity from Carrillo off a corner kick saved by Feener with time winding down.
Both teams would manage a pair of quality opportunities in the second overtime but the match would end in a 2-2 draw following one final free kick by Seattle that was sent wide of the net via a header from Shane Mahvi. Bakersfield outshot Seattle 22-20 in the match with Eduardo Caldaza (So., South Los Angeles, Calif., Roosevelt HS) taking a team-high six shots for the Roadrunners. Perez made eight saves in the match for Bakersfield as well.
Masumiya was named College Sports Madness Men's Soccer WAC Player of the Week Oct. 15. Masumiya scored two goals in the 'Runners victory over San José State.
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