BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — It’s been three years since the CSUB men’s soccer team has played conference match and four years since being able to vie for a title. Friday, the Roadrunners take the first step in making their return to conference action, traveling to Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opponent UNLV for a 7 p.m. kick-off.
The Roadrunners were granted membership into the MPSF last spring, and despite being unable to play for the conference tournament title and NCAA automatic bid until 2010, they intend to compete for top standing by the end of the regular season.
“We’ve waited three years for this,” said Head Coach Simon Tobin. “UNLV has had one of their best starts and we will be playing on the road. And I feel New Mexico is one of the top 10 teams in the country, so we are opening with probably the two toughest games in conference play.
“But on the plus side, just to be playing in a conference after two years in the wilderness is great and we’ve been looking forward to the challenge.”
Bakersfield has hit its stride in recent weeks, remaining unbeaten in the last four matches, moving to 5-3-2 overall. Three of those four contests were shutouts for freshman goalkeeper Eric Shannon who now has four clean sheets and a 1.16 goals against average for the season.
In UNLV, the ‘Runners will face a side riding a two-match win streak and a 6-2-2 overall record. Nick Marshall, the MPSF points and goals leader through Oct. 12, leads the Rebels’ attack with seven goals and two assists. Stephen Sifuentes and Zach Kupfer have chipped in five goals and four goals, respectively.
Sunday, CSUB faces New Mexico in Albuquerque. The Lobos, winners of six of the last eight MPSF championships, enter the week with a 6-4-0 record and will face Seattle Friday. Eight different players have tallied goals for UNM, led by Justin Davis with four.
The MPSF has been in existence since 1992 with past members including UCLA, Fresno State and University of Washington. Along with CSUB, current members include Air Force, University of Denver, University of New Mexico, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Sacramento State, San Jose State and Seattle. The conference champion, currently determined by the top point-getter following a single round of seven matches, receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Championships.
Courtesy: Steven A. Limentani
