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StephonMarcano
Mark Duffel

Men's Soccer

Bakersfield Begins Exhibition Season with The Master's

Bakersfield, Calif. – Six-hundred and eighty-four days after knocking off UTRGV in their final home game of the 2019 season, CSU Bakersfield Men's Soccer returns to The Main Soccer field for an exhibition contest against The Master's University, Wednesday night. Kick-off between the Roadrunners and the Mustangs is set for 7 p.m.
 
"We felt it was important to play three matches this pre-season to get us prepared for the season ahead," said CSUB Head Coach Richie Grant. "The Masters are always well coached and prepared to compete.  This is a great opportunity for our squad to experience a game situation as we work toward developing our identity for the fall."
 
Bakersfield did not compete during the 2020 campaign, when the Big West opted out of fall competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The `Runner men's soccer program will make its long-awaited conference debut in 2021.
 
CSUB posted an 8-11 overall record in 2019, their final season in the Western Athletic Conference, including a 6-5 conference mark and a trip to the WAC Tournament semi-finals.
 
Ten letter winners return from that season, including team captain and top-returning goal scorer Carlos Armendariz. The San Francisco, Calif., native scored four goals and led the `Runners in minutes during the 2019 campaign to earn All-WAC Honorable Mention.
 
2019 All-Freshman Team honoree Michael Vogel also returns to bolster the attack alongside Armendariz. Vogel appeared in all 19 games and made eight starts, scoring three goals and collecting a pair of assists in his freshman season.
 
Seniors Tom Shepherd and Ricardo Soza should also figure into Bakersfield's offensive push. Shepherd recorded a pair of goals and three assists in 2019, while Soza chipped in a goal and four helpers.
 
All told, CSUB returns 12 of 29 goals (41.4%) from 2019.
 
Harry Downing and Stephon Marcano should carry the load out of the back, along with a host of newcomers vying to make an impact.
 
Downing also earned 2019 All-WAC Freshman Team accolades after starting all 18 games in which he appeared. The English national scored once and anchored the `Runner defense with 1,605 minutes played in the central defense.
 
Marcano returns from injury after appearing in just one game during the 2019 season. He was a mainstay on the Bakersfield back four in 2018, starting sixteen games and totaling 1,409 minutes played.
 
Bryson Hankins, an outside back and a Bakersfield native, is expected to contribute immediately after transferring from San Diego State University.

 Hankins is one of seventeen newcomers who will join the Roadrunners this season, including three goalkeepers vying to replace Detre Bell.
 
Scott Pengelly and Sucre Herrera will compete as freshmen this season, while Yuki Nishigaki comes to Bakersfield after two seasons at Barton CC in Barton, Kan.
 
The Mustangs did compete in 2020, competing in an abbreviated season schedule, that saw them outscored 19-3 in 10 games.
 
Aldan Rohde is the team's returning goal scorer, striking twice in 2020.
 
Goalkeepers Price Anderson and Kian Bensend split time a year ago, and both return this season for The Master's.
 
CSUB will play three exhibition games this season, with home games against The Master's and Loyola Marymount sandwiched around a strip to Stanford, before opening the regular season on Aug. 26 against San Jose State.
 
All regular season home games, and all Big West matches, will stream live on ESPN+ this season.
 
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Players Mentioned

Carlos Armendariz

#10 Carlos Armendariz

MF
5' 9"
Junior
Harry Downing

#5 Harry Downing

D
6' 0"
Sophomore
Sucre Herrera

#22 Sucre Herrera

GK
6' 0"
Freshman
Stephon Marcano

#23 Stephon Marcano

D
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Tom Shepherd

#9 Tom Shepherd

F
6' 2"
Senior
Ricardo Soza

#15 Ricardo Soza

MF
5' 6"
Senior
Michael Vogel

#24 Michael Vogel

MF/F
5' 8"
Sophomore
Scott Pengelly

#1 Scott Pengelly

GK
6' 2"
Freshman
Bryson Hankins

#8 Bryson Hankins

D
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Carlos Armendariz

#10 Carlos Armendariz

5' 9"
Junior
MF
Harry Downing

#5 Harry Downing

6' 0"
Sophomore
D
Sucre Herrera

#22 Sucre Herrera

6' 0"
Freshman
GK
Stephon Marcano

#23 Stephon Marcano

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
D
Tom Shepherd

#9 Tom Shepherd

6' 2"
Senior
F
Ricardo Soza

#15 Ricardo Soza

5' 6"
Senior
MF
Michael Vogel

#24 Michael Vogel

5' 8"
Sophomore
MF/F
Scott Pengelly

#1 Scott Pengelly

6' 2"
Freshman
GK
Bryson Hankins

#8 Bryson Hankins

5' 9"
Freshman
D
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