Bakersfield’s roster did lose a few key figures from last year, including its starting goalkeeper and a couple of solid defenders that helped the team place seventh, but Grant returned 15 men from a year ago. The team will look to veteran leaders like Connor Mautino, Bryson Hankins, and Bilal Mihoubi to lead by example. CSUB will also lean heavily on an experienced group of second-year `Runners who showed out during their rookie campaign in 2023.
Sophomore defenders Sinan Solmaz, Luka Geishauser, and Filip Arras will help Hankins anchor the backline, which ranked 18th in all of NCAA Division I last year in Goals Against Average. The pacey play of midfielders Jesse Wangusi, Joey Velasquez, and Adrian Jogerst will cause problems for opponents in the middle of the pitch, leading to goal-scoring opportunities for a large group of veteran finishers.
And all of that is not even to mention the gaps Grant’s staff filled with nine newcomers, like Australian netminder Zenden Hart and graduate transfer Aaron Biggerstaff, to just name a couple.
The `Runners will be looking to upend the expectations of the league’s leaders as they set out on a challenging non-conference slate that will prepare them for the rigors of a tough Big West schedule. Follow along with CSUB Men’s Soccer all season long right here on GoRunners.com, on social media @CSUB_MSoccer, and in-person by securing your tickets today at GoRunners.com/Tickets.
Cal State Bakersfield officially opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 22, when Utah Tech comes to Kern County. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (PT) at the Main Soccer Field. As always, parking is free in Lot I starting two hours before the match, courtesy of CSUB Athletics.
~GoRunners.com~
