BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- The final two home games of the 2015 season have arrived for the CSU Bakersfield women's soccer team which will celebrate Senior Day for its four graduating Roadrunners this weekend. Tori Ornela, Leilani Skinner, Whitney Strong, and Taylor Wheeler will play their final regular-season home match in front of the Bakersfield crowd on Sunday.
Bakersfield's quartet of Roadrunners will graduate this year with Ornela and Skinner leaving the program after four years plus a redshirt season while Strong and Wheeler will graduate in four years. Before the match on Sunday, CSUB will honor all four ladies in their Senior Day ceremony. Here is a preview of the career highlights that will be celebrated:
- Ornela will conclude her career with over 350 career saves and over 70 matches started. She is the CSUB all-time career leader in saves and minutes played.
- Skinner will conclude her collegiate career ranked in the CSUB Top 10 all-time with nearly 75 career appearances and will leave the program with nearly 5,0000 minutes played.
- Strong has appeared in over 30 matches for the 'Runners and had a career-high three assists in the 2014 season.
- Wheeler is on pace to tie the CSUB all-time record in career appearances with 79 and could break the record if the 'Runners make a postseason run. She will graduate with her name in the school's Division I Top 10 in appearances, starts, points, goals, assists, and shots.
The 'Runners will compete against the same two opponents as last week in WAC leaders Seattle U and Utah Valley, but CSUB will play host this time. Friday's match against Seattle U is scheduled for a 5 p.m. kickoff while Sunday's match will start at 11 a.m.
“It's a little bit of a different challenge for us by playing the same teams in successive weekends,” said Gary Curneen, CSUB's Head Coach. “It's a great challenge for us to see how we can prepare tactically and experience directly what progress we have made. It's also an opportunity to give our four seniors a great send off and thank them for an unbelievable contribution to the program and CSUB Athletics.”
Seattle U comes into the match with a record of 10-2-3, 4-0-2 WAC, and is ranked No. 67 in the RPI. The Redhawks defeated CSUB last Friday in Seattle by a 3-0 score. Karli White, who is tied for the team lead in goals, scored against the 'Runners last week as did Rosalie Sittauer and Kiana Kraft.
Utah Valley entered the week with a record of 11-4-1, 6-0-1 WAC and will face the Antelopes of Grand Canyon on Friday before coming to Bakersfield on Sunday. The Wolverines had a three-goal lead over CSUB early in the second half last week and fended off CSUB's comeback for a 3-2 win. Sheridan Fox deposited the first two goals for UVU while Kasandra Anderson scored what turned out to be a crucial third goal.
Both matches this weekend will be aired live on the WAC Digital Network, free to fans. Tickets are available ahead of time at Vallitix.com as well as at the gate. As always, parking is free for fans during games.
Friday night's doubleheader will also be our official AYSO Soccer Night and Central California Aztecs Night. Members, participants, and affiliates of these or other local youth soccer organizations are encouraged to attend for a night of fun, teambuilding, and Bakersfield soccer. The Aztecs annual club raffle will be held on site at the Main Soccer Field, with the winner being announced at halftime of the men's game. This year's grand prize will be a 2016 Fiat. This raffle is open to the public and tickets may be purchased on site at the games.
~GoRunners.com~
