Women's Soccer Closes Nonconference Slate at Home

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield's women's soccer team closes its nonconference tilt this weekend at home with a single contest on Sunday afternoon against future Big West foe UC Santa Barbara. CSUB is 1-0-1 this year against BW schools.

Win or lose the Roadrunners will enter Western Athletic Conference action next week with their best Division I nonconference record since joining the league seven seasons ago.

Bakersfield checks in at 5-4-1, while the Gauchos are 3-3-3 on the year. CSUB started the 2019 season off with a win, loss, and another win, before a two-game skid, followed by a four-game unbeaten streak that was snapped last weekend when Sacramento State shut the Roadrunners out 2-0.

"I believe UCSB will be our true test during this non-conference schedule and I am looking forward to seeing how we fair against one of the top teams in the Big West, said head coach Sebastian Vecchio. "They have played a very difficult schedule and they are way better than what their record indicates."

UC Santa Barbara leads the all-time series 7-0-1, but the one time CSUB prevented UCSB from a shutout was at home nine seasons ago when they tallied a draw. The last time the Gauchos were in Bakersfield was in 2015 the Roadrunners were shutout 3-0.

The Gauchos are led by Shaelan Murison who has seven goals and two assists for a total of 16 points. It'll be important for Vecchio and company to find Murison and keep her out of UCSB's attacking third.

The Roadrunners have relied on five or six newcomers to take on a consistent starting role this season but it's their local veteran leadership that is leading the group.

Bakersfield is led offensively by senior Sophie Freeman and junior Eszter Toth. Freeman leads the team in points with seven (3g, 1a), while the pair each have three goals this season. Aryana Harvey is CSUB's lead distributor as the redshirt senior has four.

"Our group is ready to compete and I am excited to see what my players can do when facing top competition," added Vecchio.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#6 Sophie Freeman: M; 5' 6"; Senior

#4 Aryana Harvey: F; 5' 7"; Redshirt Senior

#20 Eszter Toth: F; 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#6 Sophie Freeman
: 5' 6"; Senior
: M

#4 Aryana Harvey
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#20 Eszter Toth
: 5' 9"; Junior
: F

Players Mentioned

#6 Sophie Freeman

#4 Aryana Harvey

#20 Eszter Toth

Players Mentioned

#6 Sophie Freeman

#4 Aryana Harvey

#20 Eszter Toth