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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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Tom Shepherd
Mark Duffel

Men's Soccer

`Runners Open Big West Era on the Road

Bakersfield, Calif. – Following a mid-season bye week, the CSU Bakersfield men's soccer team returns to action with a pair of conference games at CSUN on Sept. 29, at 7:00 p.m., and at UC Riverside on Oct. 2, at 7:00 p.m. The weekend contests mark CSUB's Big West men's soccer debut, 455 days after officially joining the contest on July 1, 2019.
 
"As a program we are so pleased to play our opening Big West match," said CSUB Head Coach Richie Grant. "This is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of our program. We have waited for this opportunity for a long time and are determined to start this chapter with inspired play."
 
The Roadrunners are in search of their first ever win over CSUN and may not get a better opportunity as the Matadors enter the game with a 1-8-0 record, after picking up their first win of the season over Portland on Sept. 20.
 
CSUN leads the all-time series 24-0-2, with each of Bakersfield's draws coming in the past five meetings.
 
The Matadors have surrendered 2.22 goals per game, while scoring just five times in nine contests. Senior midfielder Giovanni Aguilar is the team's leading scorer with a pair of goals and an assist.
 
Bakersfield is 7-1-3 all-time against UC Riverside, including a 4-0-1 mark in the last five meetings between the two teams.
 
The Highlanders boast the top non-conference record in the Big West, entering the weekend with a 5-3-0 mark and outscoring their opponents 17-11.
 
Five players have scored multiple goals for UCR, led by forward Issa Badawiya and defender Adrian Tatum-Meade with three. Badawiya's eight points lead the club.
 
CSUB is led by senior transfer Aodhan O'Hara, who ranks third in the Big West with four goals through non-conference play. O'Hara now boasts a team-best 13 career Division I goals after potting nine over four seasons at Alabama Birmingham.
 
Midfielder and team captain, Carlos Armendariz has scored twice to date and is the team's top career scorer in a CSUB uniform with six.
 
Harry Downing has also scored for Bakersfield, opening the scoring in the team's 2-1 win at Gonzaga on Sept. 17. O'Hara would net the game winner in Spokane, giving the `Runners a momentum generating victory to close out the non-conference schedule.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Scott Pengelly has played all 650 minutes in the `Runner goal this season, making 16 saves in seven games.
 
Pengelly, O'Hara, Armendariz, Downing, Ricardo Soza and Eric Whelan are the lone Bakersfield players to start all seven games.
 
Niklas Roessler leads the `Runners with a pair of assists, including a perfect set piece to find Downing for his goal against the Bulldogs.
 
Both of this weekend's games will be broadcast live on ESPN+, as part of the league's agreement with ESPN.
 
Following the contest at UC Riverside, the Roadrunners will return home for Viva Los `Runners night on Oct. 6, against Cal State Fullerton. The contest will mark the program's first Big West home game and serve as a celebration of Latinx culture, featuring taco trucks, live music and much more.
 
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Players Mentioned

Carlos Armendariz

#10 Carlos Armendariz

MF
5' 9"
Junior
Harry Downing

#5 Harry Downing

D
6' 0"
Sophomore
Ricardo Soza

#15 Ricardo Soza

MF
5' 6"
Senior
Eric Whelan

#4 Eric Whelan

D
6' 1"
Senior
Scott Pengelly

#1 Scott Pengelly

GK
6' 2"
Freshman
Niklas Roessler

#11 Niklas Roessler

MF
5' 11"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Carlos Armendariz

#10 Carlos Armendariz

5' 9"
Junior
MF
Harry Downing

#5 Harry Downing

6' 0"
Sophomore
D
Ricardo Soza

#15 Ricardo Soza

5' 6"
Senior
MF
Eric Whelan

#4 Eric Whelan

6' 1"
Senior
D
Scott Pengelly

#1 Scott Pengelly

6' 2"
Freshman
GK
Niklas Roessler

#11 Niklas Roessler

5' 11"
Senior
MF
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