Winner of `Runners GCU Match Advances To WAC Tourney

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – So this is what it has come to. A one game playoff. You win and you are in. Lose and go home. CSU Bakersfield women's soccer team knows what they need to do. But so does Grand Canyon.

Friday, Oct. 27 the `Runners travel to GCU to see who earns the final spot for the Western Athletic Conference tournament. Both teams come into the match with a 1-4-1 record in the WAC.

CSUB is coming off a 1-0 loss to Utah Valley and GCU tied with Seattle U 0-0. Seattle U's draw on Sunday earned them at least the five seed at the WAC tournament next week.

The Lopes are led by McKenzie Cook's 10 points and Madison Cox's eight, who also leads the team in goals with four. The `Runners are led by junior Alexa Orrante's 15 points and her team leading 6 goals. Freshman Kamari Hines has 11 points and four of her five goals are game winners. Record setting junior Aminah Settles has 10 points and has been a threat up top all season for Head Coach Gary Curneen's squad.

"It has certainly been a rollercoaster season for our team and there is a lot at stake on Friday night, but it's important that we play the game and not the occasion" said Curneen. "I am confident in this group of players to step up and finish the season strong. We will be mentally and physically ready for battle in Phoenix and am confident that if we put the performance in, the result will come with it."

This is soccer, so I know what you are asking. What if the two teams tie. Really? You had to go there didn't you. OK, well you asked for it.

If the two teams tie:
CSUB gets the six seed if NMSU wins or ties AND Seattle U ties or loses.
GCU gets the six seed if Seattle U wins AND NMSU ties or loses.

Another way to look at it:
If NMSU is ahead of Seattle U in the standings, CSUB gets the six seed based on record vs. NMSU.
If SU is ahead of NMSU in the standings, GCU gets in based on record vs. Seattle U.

If NMSU, Seattle U AND UTRGV are all tied in the standings, both CSUB and GCU are both 0-2-1 versus the three teams. Then it would come down to goal differential against those three teams and GCU has the edge in that final tiebreaker -1 for GCU to -3 for CSUB.

Did you get all that? To be honest, it really is simple. WIN AND YOU ARE IN!

Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Phoenix on Friday at GCU Stadium. The match will be televised on the WAC Digital Network.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Alexa Orrante: M; 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior

#17 Aminah Settles: F; 5' 6"; Redshirt Junior

#10 Kamari Hines: F; 5' 4"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

#23 Alexa Orrante
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior
: M

#17 Aminah Settles
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#10 Kamari Hines
: 5' 4"; Redshirt Freshman
: F

Players Mentioned

#23 Alexa Orrante

#17 Aminah Settles

#10 Kamari Hines

Players Mentioned

#23 Alexa Orrante

#17 Aminah Settles

#10 Kamari Hines