BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Houston Baptist scored two goals in the first 22 minutes as the Huskies defeated Bakersfield 3-1 in Western Athletic Conference men's soccer action Sunday afternoon.

Houston Baptist opened the scoring 8:36 into the match when Miguel Zapata put back a Tobenna Uzo deflection in front the 'Runner net. Just under 14 minutes later, Stefan Lamanna dribbled past the Bakersfield defense, and launched a low attempt that went into the lower right corner of the CSUB goal.

“I thought we actually started quite lively, so we were disappointed to lose the first goal,” said Bakersfield head coach Richie Grant. The second goal was a real killer.”

Christian Duarte (Jr., Houston, Texas, Clear Springs HS) got the Roadrunners on the board with his fourth goal of the season in the 69th minute. Brian Charles (So., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) set Duarte with a pass on the left side of the field where Duarte's blast went in from 15 yards out. 

In the 75th minute, Bakersfield had two opportunities to tie the match. Joe Masumiya (R-Sr., Lakewood, Calif., Lakewood HS) took a shot from just inside the 18 where the Houston Baptist defense deflected the ball to Simon Doherty (Jr., West Lothian, Scotland, FDU) who had his challenge turned away by Huskies' goalie Phillip Poser. Gustavo Alvarado clinched the match for Houston Baptist in the 89th minute. Alvarado took a throw-in from Patrick Toh, moved past a CSUB defender and scored from three yards out.

“We're just in a bit of slump,” Grant said. “We haven't been playing our best football, but I think we'll play ourselves out of it. Houston Baptist deserved it today because the two goals were really important. I thought we might get back to 2-2. We looked good for it, but they just caught us right at the end of the game.”

Houston Baptist improved to 2-6-2, 1-3 in the WAC. Bakersfield has lost three in a row to fall to 8-5-1, 2-3 in WAC play.

“The spirit of the group now is a little bit shaky,” Grant said. “It's important for us to get us back to what got us in a good position and we're just going to have to work through it. We knew that the league was going to be tough. I have said from Day one that we need to be at our best in November, so we have some time in front of us.”

The Roadrunners open a three-game road trip next Sunday when Bakersfield travels to San José State for a 3 p.m. matchup. Bakersfield returns home Friday, Nov. 7 when CSUB hosts Utah Valley at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at vallitix.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~