BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- For the second time in three days, the Roadrunner women's soccer team came from behind to win 4-2. On Sunday afternoon, Bakersfield (4-13-1, 3-5 WAC) completed its comeback against New Mexico State (3-16, 2-7 WAC) behind the goals of Hedda Regefalk (So., Stockholm, Sweden, Blacksbergs Gymnasium).

“Similar to Friday night, I thought we didn't start the game very well,” said Gary Curneen, Bakersfield's head coach. “We gave New Mexico State a leg up and credit to them, they took it. But, we showed enormous character to get back into the match. I thought we showed what we were made of in the second half. I'm really proud of what the women did today.”

The Aggies struck first with a goal just ten minutes into the game. Jennae Cambra slotted a pass to Layla Todd who beat the keeper to take a 1-0 lead. The 'Runners wasted no time in answering back, earning a corner kick immediately after the kick off. Jess Moorehead (Fr., Strabane, N. Ireland, Strabane Academy) took the corner and her ball curved towards the goal, snuck past a pack of players, and went in for the equalizer just 38 seconds after NMSU had gained the lead.

At 22:28, Cambra picked up her 12th goal of the season on a pass from Alexys Brownell to give NMSU a 2-1 lead. New Mexico State's forward came into the weekend second in the WAC in goals. The Aggies took that lead into halftime while the 'Runners held a 5-3 shot advantage and appeared equally threatening at the goal.

Bakersfield continued with heavy pressure early on in the second half and finally converted an opportunity in the 55th minute. Moorehead crossed a ball in to Kelly Mitchell (Fr., Corona, Calif., Santiago HS) who flicked it on to Taylor Wheeler (Jr., Fullerton, Calif., La Habra HS). The junior midfielder played a heady touch which just beat the keeper to score the equalizer.

The 'Runners took their first lead of the game at 66:11 when Wheeler launched a ball over the top from behind midfield and connected with Regefalk. The Swedish goal-scorer added to her CSUB single-season Division I record with her 10th goal of the season.

The Aggies applied ample pressure in the final 20 minutes of the game, creating multiple opportunities, but their stretched offense left an open defense susceptible to the 'Runner attack. Moorehead would pick up her fourth point of the game when her cross from the far side met Regefalk at the top of the box in the 86th minute. Bakersfield's forward put away her second goal of the game and fifth of the weekend to eliminate any possibility of an Aggie comeback. With a season total of 11 goals, Regefalk is now not only the Bakersfield Division I record holder for goals in a season, but she is also seventh all-time for goals in a season and her 15 career goals is seventh all-time in CSUB history as well.

Coach Curneen had high praises for his record book-climbing forward: “Hedda is worth her weight in gold, obviously. I think her work rate has been fantastic. She has been consistent all season and she has kept believing and kept committing herself to that level of work and now she's getting rewarded for goals.”

With the win on Sunday, the 'Runners continued to climb the ranks of the WAC standings while Bakersfield won both of its games on the weekend for the first time since the opening of the 2009 season. The win today guaranteed the 'Runners a spot in the WAC tournament which will take place Nov. 6-7, 9 in Seattle. “It's exciting,” said Curneen of his team's forward momentum. “We've still got room to grow. To go to the conference tournament, it's not about the first game; it's about playing back-to-back, back-to-back. Physically, it's a test and usually then, mentally, it's a test. We have got to get habits of seeing games out and showing up ready to play even though you might be physically exhausted. Today is a huge step forward.”

Bakersfield will finish their season next week with two more home games at the Main Soccer Field. The 'Runners will start out with a 7 p.m. match against Grand Canyon on Thursday, Oct. 30, in order to make up their September match which was postponed due to weather. GCU and the 'Runners will have an encore on Saturday, Nov. 1, with the season finale scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. as well. Get your tickets ahead of time at Vallitix.com and be here to cheer on your 'Runners.

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