BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—After 24 matches on the road, No. 24 CSU Bakersfield opened the home slate Sunday against No. 2 UCLA. Unfortunately, a strong defensive effort wasn't enough as the Roadrunners dropped a 6-1 decision to the Bruines.

The defensive performance turned in by CSUB against UCLA was the fewest goals allowed to an MPSF opponent in 49 all-time meetings against league foes. The previous best was seven that the 'Runners gave to California earlier this season (7-3 loss), Stanford (7-1 loss) during the 2010 season, and seven to San Jose State (7-6 loss) during the 2002 campaign.

“We were aggressive on defense and played with a lot of energy,” said CSUB head coach Jason Gall.

The Bruins led 3-1 at halftime. Nicola Barrett had the lone CSUB goal, a 6-on-5 tally, with 1:42 to go in the first period. A sequence of five consecutive CSUB turnovers led to three UCLA goals in the third period. Roadrunner goalie Courtney Wahlstrom and her Bruin counterpart, Carlee Kapanan, combined for seven saves in the fourth period as both teams could not score.

“We were working so hard on defense, that we struggled on the offensive end,” Gall said. “If came down to one or the other, I'd rather get the stops on defensive. When (CSUB's leading scorer) Ashley (Paz) picked up her third ejection and fouled out, it definitely hurt us on offense. Courtney came up with some big blocks and did a good job for us today.”

CSUB travels to Hawai'i for the first time since the 2000 season for three matches next week. The Roadrunners face No. 10 UC San Diego on Thursday at 4 p.m. (HST), No. 7 UC Irvine Friday at 4 p.m. (HST), and No. 4 Hawai'i on Saturday at 6 p.m. (HST). The Roadrunners return home Apr. 2 against No. 3 Stanford at 1 p.m.

~www.GoRunners.com~

UCLA                     2 1 3 0                   6

CSUB                     1 0 0 0                   1

UCLA Goals-Forster 2, Rozeboom 1, Schilling 1, Grab 1, Tielmann 1

CSUB Goals-Barrett 1

UCLA Saves-Kapanan 6, Mussleman 3

CSUB Saves-Wahlstrom 7