USAFA, Colo.-- A third minute goal put the CSU Bakersfield women's soccer team down early, but the Roadrunners fought back to earn a 2-1 victory over Air Force on Sunday. Freshman Chloe Peepgrass scored the equalizer shortly before fellow freshman Sabrina Delgado put away the game winner.

“This was a big one,” said Gary Curneen, Head Coach of the 'Runners. “I can't speak highly enough of the girls in terms of work rate and commitment. What we excelled at today, though, was the discipline to see the job out. Again, Sabrina was outstanding but special mentions must go to Maja Green and Morgan Cole. They led us through some nervy moments and showed great leadership to see us over the line.”

The 'Runners and Falcons played a wild first 11 minutes with three combined goals from the two teams. Air Force struck first with a goal just two minutes and 35 seconds into the match. Angela Karamanos chased down a through ball from Alison Skidmore and put it past the 'Runner keeper, Tori Ornela.

In Friday's match against Colorado College, the 'Runners also gave up and early goal. The difference on Sunday was that it took a mere four minutes for CSUB to respond with a goal of its own. With the Air Force goalkeeper off of her line, Peepgrass, a freshman, took advantage of poor positioning and lobbed it over the keeper from 35 yards out. Peepgrass, who came into the match with two goals in just 37 minutes played, scored her third goal at the 7:32 mark while Tori VandeHoef picked up an assist.

CSU Bakersfield gained the lead less than three minutes after its first goal thanks to a Taylor Wheeler pass to Delgado. The 'Runner senior earned her seventh career goal, which ties her for second in CSUB Division I history, while the freshman scored her second goal in as many games.

The rest of the first half played out as a physical battle with both teams pressuring, but neither side creating close chances. In the 41st minute, Karamanos received the ball in the CSUB 18-yard box and turned and fired to the far post. Ornela, a redshirt senior with nearly 300 career saves, made a diving grab to keep the 'Runners ahead at halftime.

The second half continued the defensive motif as neither team was able to score. Delgado's goal proved to be the game winner, the first of her young career, as the 'Runners improved to 2-5-1 on the season. Ornela finished the match with another eight saves, bringing her career total to 294.

CSUB will return home next week for a pair of matches. On Wednesday, Sept. 23, UC Santa Barbara will come to Bakersfield in the Roadrunners' final match before Western Athletic Conference play begins. On Saturday, Sept. 26, WAC foe Grand Canyon comes to town for the first WAC match of the season. Tickets for both matches can be bought at the gate or ahead of time at Vallitix.com.

~GoRunners.com~