EDINBURG, Texas-- An 81st-minute penalty kick by Alexa Orrante opened the floodgates for CSU Bakersfield's women's soccer team as the Roadrunners scored three goals in the final 10 minutes to shut out UTRGV 3-0. With a win on Friday against NM State, the 'Runners have earned their first double-win weekend on the road since CSUB moved to NCAA Division I in 2007.

“It's the perfect end to a great weekend for our team,” said Gary Curneen, Head Coach of the 'Runners. “I thought we were magnificent today in terms of our work rate and quality. The opening goal took some time to come but the girls stayed patient and trusted each other to get the job done. To be unbeaten in the conference at this stage is a great testament to the work and commitment these girls are putting into their soccer. Credit goes to the whole squad today on a tough but successful road trip.”

CSU Bakersfield has opened Western Athletic Conference play with a tie and two victories for seven points. That point total earns the 'Runners a tie for first place with Utah Valley while CSUB will return home for a pair of WAC matches next week.

Not only did Bakersfield earn its first-ever back-to-back wins in a weekend on the road this week, the 'Runners are on a three-match road win streak after defeating Air Force 2-1 on Sept. 20. Before this three-win stretch, CSUB had only won back-to-back road matches once in Division I history (2009). With seven contests remaining in the regular season, the 'Runners have already matched their win total from the 2014 season.

The first half of Sunday's match was slow for both teams while the 'Runners applied the most pressure. CSUB outshot UTRGV 8-5 with a 3-2 shots on goal advantage as both teams' defenses held firm. It would remain a defensive contest well into the second half, but Bakersfield broke the tie late.

Over 80 minutes into the match, all of the chances and opportunities the Roadrunners created finally came to fruition. The redshirt freshman connection of Orrante and Aminah Settles worked as Orrante slotted a beautiful pass into the box for a sprinting Settles. The Tucson, Ariz. native beat the defense, but Settles was pulled down from behind, earning CSUB a penalty kick. Orrante stepped up to the penalty spot and buried her first goal of the season to put the 'Runners ahead.

Less than five minutes later, freshman Sabrina Delgado fed fellow freshman Madi Giammona with a ball to open space in the middle of the field around 35 yards out. Giammona drove straight toward the net for 10 yards and fired from distance before the UTRGV defense could converge. The Littleton, Colo. native's shot sailed over the keeper's leaping hand and went in to give the 'Runners an insurance goal.

39 seconds after Giammona's goal, Tori Ornela, the 'Runner keeper, sent a deep ball over the top which was flicked on by Coral Lake to a sprinting Settles. CSUB's leading goal scorer sped past the defender and finished for her fifth goal of the season and a 3-0 Roadrunner lead. Ornela and Lake both earned their first assists of the season on the play.

Ornela organized her defenders well as the redshirt senior needed to save only two balls in the match. The native of Lemoore, Calif. earned her second shutout of the season while her career total rose to five. Ornela now sits in a three-way tie for sixth all-time in CSUB history with her five career shutouts.

The 'Runners (4-6-2, 2-0-1 WAC) will return to Bakersfield for a pair of WAC matches next week. CSUB will host Missouri-Kansas City Oct. 9 before welcoming Chicago State Oct. 11. Tickets for both of those matches can be purchased ahead of time at Vallitix.com as well as at the gate on game day. Friday's match against UMKC will be aired live on Bakersfield.com for fans who are unable to make it out to the Main Soccer Field.

~GoRunners.com~