Box Score MOSCOW, Idaho--Erica Shelton (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., UC Santa Barbara) scored her first goal since the season opener when she connected on a free kick in the sixth minute and that was all the Roadrunners needed in a 1-0 Western Athletic Conference win at Idaho Friday afternoon.
It was the midfielder's team-leading fourth goal of the year and came after an Idaho penalty which set Shelton up with the free kick just outside of the goal box. Shelton's previous three goals came in the Aug. 23 opener against Southern Utah.
"We have been playing great team soccer on both ends of the ball," said head coach Melissa Phillips. "We have an edge in our play and it has certainly showed through in the last four games."
Bakersfield (4-10-1, 3-4-1), playing in a critical match, now lead Idaho in the standings for the fourth and final spot in the WAC Tournament with two weeks remaining in the regular season. The 'Runners also claimed the season series against the Vandals (3-11, 3-4) on Friday after a 1-0 win back on Oct. 6 in Bakersfield.
The Roadrunners played physical from the start setting a tone that led to 16 shots in the match but also 15 fouls and three bookings by the referee. Bakersfield's pace and agressiveness however helped down the stretch where the defense managed to turn back last-ditch Idaho efforts including four shots in a four-minute span entering the 80th minute that culminated with the potential game-tying try hitting the crossbar.
Goalkeeper Tori Ornela (So., Lemoore, Calif., Lemoore HS) also managed a save in that frenzy of shots and ended the match with nine for Bakersfield. Emily Noethe (Jr., Dallas, Ga., East Paulding HS) paced a busy Roadrunners offense with three shots while Hedda Regefalk (Fr., Stockholm, Sweden, Balckebergs Gymnasium) and Shelton added a pair for the 'Runners. Idaho outshot CSUB on goal nine to six.
"Games will continue to be a grind through the rest of the conference but if we can show the resiliency we did today this team should be confident moving forward," Phillips said.
The Roadrunners now travel to first-place Seattle on Sunday. Kickoff is schedule for Noon.
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