BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? Cal State Bakersfield remained perfect at the Main Soccer Field in 2006 with a 2-0 win over UC San Diego on Friday.
The Roadrunners improved to 5-0-0 at home this season and have outscored their opponents by a 12-3 margin in those five home matches. In contrast, Bakersfield is just 1-3-1 on the road as the only team in the CCAA to open the season with five conference matches away from home.
CSUB's first goal came at the 65th minute as Towa Manda took the ball into the corner and juked his way clear of his defender before sending a perfect cross to the far post where Ryan Gay was waiting for the deflection into the net to break the deadlock.
UCSD was awarded a penalty on a foul in the box leaving the match with the possibility of being level with six minutes to go. Kyle Parton took the penalty and actually sent Bakersfield goalkeeper Steve Trojanowski the wrong way, but his shot sailed well right of the goal to keep the score 1-0.
The Roadrunners appeared to go up by two goals just moments later, but freshman Javier Barba was ruled to be offside to take away his first career goal. But just minutes later he scored that first career goal when Mike Esparza passed him a ball backward from deep in the penalty area and he buried the ball into the corner for the 2-0 lead.
Trojanowski made three saves for his third shutout of the season. UCSD goalkeeper Luis Salazar made five saves in the loss.
The Tritons return to action on Sunday, playing at Cal State L.A. at 12:30 p.m. Following that match, UCSD will return home to host Sonoma State and Humboldt State next Friday and Sunday, respectively.