Box Score BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Taylor Layton's goal in the 57th minute off a Grand Canyon direct kick was the lone score of the game and was enough for Grand Canyon (5-12-1, 4-71 WAC) to claim a 1-0 win over Bakersfield (4-12-1, 36-1 WAC) in the home-finale for the Roadrunners Sunday at The Main Soccer Field.
Layton's goal from 10 yards out came off a Jessica Valadez direct kick, Layton managed one dribble in the box then found the net for the eventual game-winner as the Antelopes held off the Bakersfield pressure in the second half to earn their fourth win in Western Athletic Conference play.
Bakersfield appeared to take the lead early in the first half on a corner kick from Erica Shelton (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif. UC Santa Barbara) when he ball found Taylor Jordan (Sr., Tulare, Calif., Tulare Union HS) who's shot hit the crossbar. The 'Runners netted the rebound but were called off sides on the exchange nullifying the goal.
The Roadrunners led 5-2 in the shots category heading into the half but Grand Canyon managed to out shoot Bakersfield 7-3 in the second half en route to the win. Bakersfield had a pair of corner kicks in the second half and several opportunities turned away in the Grand Canyon box as the Antelopes held on for the win.
It was an important match in the WAC standings for the Roadrunners who are battling both Idaho (4-6 WAC) and New Mexico State (1-8-1 WAC) for the fourth and final spot in the WAC women's soccer tournament. Idaho managed a 1-0 win at New Mexico State Sunday afternoon as they pull a half-game above the 'Runners for the final spot with two matches remaining. CSUB holds the tie-breaker with Idaho winning the season series 2-0.
Bakersfield plays at Kansas City on Friday before heading to Las Cruces, N.M., for a match with the Aggies next Sunday. Idaho meanwhile has two matches left against first-place Seattle next week, the first match on Friday in Seattle, Wash., with the second schedule for Sunday in Moscow, Idaho.
Seattle clinched the regular-season title and the top-seed in the WAC tournament with their 3-0 win over Kansas City on Sunday.
~www.GoRunners.com~