Senior Writer
CSU Bakersfield men’s soccer scored to tie the game against the University of San Francisco, but the Roadrunners (1-2) let the game slip from their hands as the Dons (1-1) scored late in the game giving the Dons the lead 2-1.
The Roadrunners were unable to score to again to tie the game on Thursday night.
“I think what really hurt us was to lose the second goal right after we got ourselves back in the game,” said CSUB head coach Richie Grant. “We were having a tough night. We never really got into a rhythm, but we had a lifeline when we got back into the game, and it was coming off the back of a good spell. So I think that really hurt us to lose the second goal.”
San Francisco came back in the 72nd minute, two minutes after conceding a goal, and scored from a bouncing cross inside the box. The ball was gathered by the Dons freshman forward Robin Lindahl who shot the ball near post to get it past CSUB senior goalkeeper Nicolas Clever and make the score 2-1.
“I feel like we improved a lot from the last game,” said CSUB senior forward Hugo Vinales. “I feel like our offense was on. We scored, then right away a lack of concentration (and) we got scored on.”
Vinales struggled to stay onside in the game after being called offside three separate times.
“(I’ve got to) concentrate more on the back line,” said Vinales. “I felt like twice I was maybe offside but once I was (onside). So maybe stay concentrated on the back line, but goals will come. The season is still short. We still have a long season ahead so goals will come.”
The Roadrunners tied the game at 1-1 in the 70:28 minute, CSUB junior defender Jaime Carey-Morell scored the penalty for the Roadrunners that got them back into the game.
“Just lack of concentration,” said Morell. “We get the goal back and within a minute we concede. We’ve got to be switched on. Everyone’s buzzing off the goal but it’s time to get (our) heads back into shape and defend and keep the ball out of the goal, and that’s what cost us.”
Both teams combined for a total of 36 shots. 21 being taken from San Francisco and 15 from CSUB.
The Don’s first goal of the game came in the 49th minute of the game. Senior forward Kevin Garrett scored from a cross that was deflected by redshirt-senior defender Joshua Smith and finished by Garrett to get San Francisco on the scoreboard.
The Roadrunners almost tied the game up again when freshman forward Louis Lapouge took a diving shot at the ball but was saved by the Dons sophomore goalkeeper Andre Glasnovic.
“You leave pleased because we created a goal scoring chance with 20 seconds to go,” said Grant. “ That’s something you’d work on the training ground. We get the last chance, and we gave ourselves a super chance.”
CSUB will play its next game against The University of New Mexico on Friday, Sep. 9 at 7 p.m. in Albuquerque, N.M.
