BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- In a physical battle against Sacramento State, the CSUB women's soccer team fell just short in a comeback bid on Friday night at the Main Soccer Field. After facing a 3-0 halftime deficit, the Roadrunners dominated the second half, narrowly missing several chances at what would have been an equalizer in a 3-2 loss.

After the match, CSUB Head Coach Gary Curneen expressed frustration over poor first-half play, but praised his team's last 45 minutes: “We never started the game with an intensity or a work rate at all and we deserved to be three-nil down. [In the second half], we threw the kitchen sink at them. To be fair to them, they weathered the storm, but there will always be that part of us that feels we handed them a little too much tonight.”

Two goals in the first 10 minutes put the 'Runners in a bind early on. The first goal came off of a steal in the 'Runner half. A powerful shot driven to the opposite corner by Jennifer Lum put the Hornets ahead 1-0. Chelsea Arnold made the score 2-0 in the eighth minute when the sophomore midfielder dribbled 30 yards and beat the 'Runner keeper in the lower corner.

The 'Runners reshaped their defense and held together for nearly 30 minutes after the opening two goals. Sac State widened the gap with its third goal of the night at 36:06 when Kylee Smith slotted a pass to Adaurie Dayak. The junior forward collected the ball and fired to make the score 3-0.

Curneen's halftime pep talk must have worked as the 'Runners came out a different team than in the first half. Early in the second half, the game turned physical with both teams fighting for every possession.

In the 52nd minute, CSUB slid past the Sac State defense into the 18-yard box, but did not score due to a hold which earned the 'Runners a penalty kick. One of CSUB's two captains, Maja Green, stepped up to the penalty spot and buried the ball to make the score 3-1. The sophomore from Sweden is Bakersfield's leading goal scorer as she netted her third of the season Friday night.

The 'Runners continued to own possession in the second half, creating chance after chance to cut their deficit. CSUB outshot Sac State 10-3 in the second half and narrowly missed multiple chances to make the score 3-2. With just 30 seconds remaining, one of those chances finally found the net when senior Taylor Wheeler sent a cross into the Sac State box. Redshirt freshman Aminah Settles put a head on the ball to score the second of the night for Bakersfield.

CSUB ran out of time to try for an equalizer, but left the field having played a strong second half. Settles was one of the 'Runners wreaking havoc for the Hornets in the last 45 minutes. The Tucson, Ariz. Native took eight shots in the game, five of which were on goal, and two that missed by mere inches. Redshirt senior Tori Ornela tended the goal well for CSUB, coming up with four saves on the night.

“It is going to be super physical," Curneen said when asked about the team's next match. "If we come out anywhere near as flat or standoffish as we did tonight, it'll be dead and buried. We've got two days to prepare ourselves physically and prepare ourselves mentally. I have confidence in this group, I believe in this group, and I believe that this group has what it takes.”

The 'Runners (1-2-1) will close out their weekend at home with a match against UC Riverside (3-2-0) on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door or ahead of time at Vallitix.com.

~GoRunners.com~