`Runners Knock Off Unbeaten USF on the Road, 1-0

• The Roadrunners (0-1-2) battled through a pair of tough games this week, coming away with a narrow loss and a draw.
• On Monday, Aug. 28, CSUB went on the road to test itself against a very tough San Diego State squad.
• The `Runners and Aztecs were tied in a scoreless battle heading into the final 10 minutes of the match.
• CSUB created a fantastic scoring opportunity late in the game, but whiffed on finishing the opportunity. The momentum quickly shifted when SDSU netted the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute.
• Bakersfield was disappointed to walk away from the clash with a 1-nil loss, but Interim Head Coach Adam Grant appreciated the mettle his squad showed against the Aztecs, who sport a deep and talented roster.

Cal State Bakersfield 6, Fresno Pacific 1

• Hosting the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds, an NCAA Division II opponent, Cal State Bakersfield went full throttle on the way to a big victory.
• Bakersfield tallied six goals on the evening from six different goal scorers. The mark tied CSUB’s Division I single-match record, a mark set in 2012 when Gyasi Zardes helped lead the Roadrunners to six goals in a match against Seattle U.
• CSUB captain Bryson Hankins started the goal scoring in the eighth minute. Bakersfield went on to get goals from Haruya Iwasaki, Kevin Estrada, Bilal Mihoubi, Connor Mautino, and Jesse Wangusi.
• Fresno Pacific tallied its lone goal in the 88th minute on a deflection by Taran Williams.
• Bakersfield now has a two-match win streak and some much-needed momentum as the `Runners will now hit the road for five straight matches. CSUB will not play at home again until Oct. 4 when the `Runners host their Big West home opener.

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Valentic Breaks School Record in the 4k.

• Bakersfield competed at the Waves Invitational hosted by Pepperdine University over the weekend.
• The Alumni Park course on the campus of Pepperdine University had 90 women racing and 9 different teams. 13 Roadrunner athletes toed the line for the 4,000-meter race on Saturday against Gonzaga, USC, Loyola Marymount, St. Mary's, Pepperdine, etc.
• Helena Valentic broke the 4k school record, recently held by Angel Valdez (09/01/2017). Valentic's time of 14:31 shaved off more than 20 seconds of the previous record. The Croatia native finished 23rd overall in the race.
• Junior Neyda Martinez was the second `Runner to cross the line for the second week in a row.
• Jayden Reyes Sarmiento, Alea Gaona, and Valerie Garcia rounded up the top five for CSUB. 
• Bakersfield finished in 9th with a total of 249 points.
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CSUB Drops Game Against Westmont

• The Roadrunners had a handful of opportunities on offense during the first half of the game with 10 shots and 6 being on target.
• True freshman, Selena Hernandez led the team with 2 shots in the first half.
• Westmont had 6 shots and 4 shots were on target.
• The visiting Warriors broke the tie with 15:46 left in the second half.
• Although CSUB finished with more shots, they were unable to capitalize while being in Westmont territory. The Warriors took the road victory 1-0.

`Runners Start Well, but Fall Against UNLV

• Cal State Bakersfield jumped out to an early, 1-0 lead over UNLV on Sunday thanks to a strong strike from Karen Flores.
• The visiting Rebels battled back, earning many good opportunities over the rest of the first half, but Bakersfield held UNLV off to take a 1-0 advantage into halftime.
• UNLV continued applying pressure to the `Runners and struck early and often in the second half.
• Mallie Ramirez netted two goals in a 48-second span before Trinity Buchanan closed the UNLV scoring with a goal of her own in the 60th minute.
• Bakersfield battled back, creating multiple great opportunities to feet of Stevie Reynolds in the final 15 minutes, but UNLV closed out the 3-1 road victory.
• CSUB begins Big West play this week, on the road at UC San Diego on Sept. 14.

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Mutai Leads `Runner Golfers in First Round of Season

• Sophomore Sarah Mutai picked up right where she left off last season, leading the `Runners in the first round of the Timpanagos Collegiate Classic.
• Mutai, who tied for the team lead in scoring average in 2022-23, posted an even 72 on Sunday in Provo, Utah. The result tied Mutai for 26th in a massive field of 104 student-athletes.
• Bakersfield also enjoyed rounds in the 70s from newcomer Nichole Whipple (77) as well as veterans Jefi Dordevic (77) and Iris Han (78).
• The `Runners continue their season-opening tournament on Monday with Round 2 before closing out with 18 holes on Tuesday.

Match 1 vs. Air Force

• Bakersfield started the weekend off hot against Air Force, winning the first set 25-21. 
• Both teams shared points back and forth in the second set but the Roadrunners came out on top taking the set 27-25.
• The `Runners were unable to hold off Air Force late in the match, losing 3-2 overall. 
• Paige Dugan (14) and Ava Palm (12) led the team in kills. Palm and Nene Hawkins tied with 14 digs during the match. 

Match 2 vs. Saint Mary's

• In the second match of the tournament, Bakersfield went up against Saint Mary’s.
• Bakersfield started off from behind, but came back winning the first set, 26-24. 
• This momentum led them to winning the next set as well, 25-22.
• Saint Mary's took control of the third set, giving the `Runners a tough battle. 
• CSUB maintained control of the fourth set and stayed ahead, impressively beating St. Mary's 25-16. 
•  Bakersfield beat Saint Mary’s 3-1.
• Ava Palm (17) and Paige Dugan(14) highlighted the kills for the second straight day.

Match 3 vs. Santa Clara

• In the final day of the Mission Classic, Bakersfield took on the host team, Santa Clara. In the first set the Broncos took the win 18-25.
• The Roadrunners won the second set in a close battle, 25-23.
• CSUB was unable to fight back late in the match. Santa Clare took the win, 3-1 over the `Runners. 
• Despite being the team’s primary outside hitter, Ava Palm led the team in both kills (3.31 per set) and Digs (3.62 per set), pulling double duty. She was a part of the All-tournament team in the Santa Clara invite, making her second all-tournament team this season.
• Nene Hawkins helped Bakersfield in competition this weekend  during their time in Santa Clara. The freshman averaged 9.15 assist and 2.77 digs per set through the weekend. Hawkins had 48 sets in the 4-set victory against Saint Mary’s.

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