BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—The CSU Bakersfield men's soccer team (1-1-1) opens the home slate Friday night when the Roadrunners host nationally ranked Loyola Marymount before traveling to CSUN Sunday.
Friday's match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Fans will receive a 2015 schedule poster upon entering the Main Soccer Field. Roadrunner head coach Richie Grant is one win away from 200 for his career. In 19 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Grant is 199-153-30.
This is the fifth time that CSUB and LMU are playing men's soccer against each other. This is the first time since the 2009 season when the Roadrunners defeated the Lions 1-0 that the teams are matching up. Loyola Marymount leads the all-time series 3-1.
The Lions enter this week ranked 19th in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 and 20th in the NSCAA top 25. Loyola Marymount is 4-0 this season, not allowing a goal along the way. LMU has not given up a goal over their last 483:56 minutes played, dating back to Nov. 4, 2014.
Lions' goalie Paul Blanchette was named the WCC Player of the Week on Monday. Blanchette has been between the pipes in each of the four matches this season. He now has 15 career shutouts, a new school record and was credited with the assist on LMU's game winning goal at Boston College.
The Roadrunners are 2-8-1 against nationally ranked opponents since moving to Division I. CSUB is 6-4 when they are nationally ranked at the Division I level.
Sunday's match against CSUN begins at 6 p.m. This will be the fourth time that CSUB has played the Matadors at the Division I level. Counting their days as members of the CCAA, CSUN leads the all-time series 23-0-1.
The Matadors are 1-2 after dropping matches to No. 1 Creighton and Nebraska-Omaha last weekend in Omaha. Steven Manios has scored two goals and recorded two assists for a team leading six points.
The Roadrunners went 1-0-1 last weekend. Brian Charles scored his first career goal in the 108th minute at UC Davis last Friday to give CSUB a 2-1 victory over the Aggies. The Roadrunners played to a 1-1 tie at Sacramento State last Sunday in Sacramento.
~www.GoRunners.com~
