BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Roadrunner women's soccer team watched a first-half lead slip away on Sunday as CSU Bakersfield was defeated at home against Sacramento State, 3-1. CSUB looked the better team in the first half, but the Hornets used a big second half to earn the road victory.
"It was very much a game of two halves for us today," said Gary Curneen, Head Coach of the `Runners. "We were excellent in all departments in the first half with Michele Day and Alexa Orrante leading the way. I thought we should have been a couple of goals up before the break, but credit to Sac State for staying with it and working their way back into the game."
The `Runners and Hornets went back and forth in the opening minutes, but redshirt junior Alexa Orrante stole the ball away from a defender in the 19th minute. The native of Chino Hills, Calif. drove toward the keeper, who was off the line, then she cut back and finished to put CSUB up 1-0 with her second goal of the weekend and her fifth of the season.
The Hornets sprinted out of the locker room and scored two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. In the 67th minute, Sac State took a 3-1 lead on Ariana Nino's first goal of the season. The `Runners applied ample pressure including putting a pair of headers on frame. The first was saved by quick hands from Sac State keeper Aaliyah Fesili and the second found the post as CSUB was unable to score in the second half.
Sacramento State (5-4-0) outshot CSUB (5-5-0) 11-5 in the second half and 19-11 in the match. The `Runners earned one more corner kick in the game (3-2) than the Hornets and sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Bertram had five saves on Sunday.
"It is a tough lesson to learn for us today," Curneen said. "When we are on top of a game, we have to throw everything towards keeping that momentum alive. But, I can't complain about the effort and work rate. This has been a tough weekend, but our group will get stronger from it."
CSUB will have a home and away schedule next week. The `Runners will travel to Stockton, Calif. on Friday, Sept. 22, to face Pacific. On Sunday, Sept. 24, CSUB will return to host UC Riverside in the final non-conference matchup before Western Athletic Conference play begins.
~GoRunners.com~
