Lancers Run Past Roadrunners in Conference Opener

Friday, October 4

Bakersfield, Calif.

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

9-2-1, 2-0-0

CSU Bakersfield

5-7-1, 0-2-0

California Baptist

CSU Bakersfield

Photo by: Reagan Lee

Lancers Run Past Roadrunners in Conference Opener

10/4/2019 9:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Danny Cross, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

BAKERSFIELD --- California Baptist University's women's soccer team claimed its fifth straight win of the season Friday night, as the Lancers kicked off Western Athletic Conference play with a 3-1 victory over CSU Bakersfield.

With the win, the Lancers improve to 8-2-1 on the season and a perfect 1-0-0 in the WAC. The Lancers get their revenge and tie the series up at 1-1 after CSUB took a 1-0 heartbreaker over the Lancers in Riverside last season.

The Lancers sit atop the standings in the conference, tying Seattle U and Grand Canyon as the only three teams to win on opening night. The win streak of five in a row is a program-best since joining D-1, breaking last year's record of three, which happened twice during the season.

"We did very well in our non-conference games, but the conference is a whole new season, and everyone starts with the same record," said head coach Kristen St. Clair. "We wanted to keep in mind the intangibles that helped us get to this point, and I think we certainly did that tonight. Road games are particularly challenging, to go on the road and establish our first conference performance, and a win was important. The goals scored by Amy, Rola, and Karley were fantastic. All three showed great composure and finishing skill."

The Lancers wasted no time making their presence known in conference play, as Rola Badawiya found Amy Aquino in the opening seconds. Aquino moved the ball to her left foot and fired off the first shot of the game, finding the back of the net before the game clock registered the first minute.

💥💥💥

THAT'S HOW YOU START CONFERENCE PLAY!

On the first shot of the game, Amy Aquino finds the back of the net to put the Lancers on top! #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/HAtNnE3Vao
— CBU Women's Soccer (@CBUwsoccer) October 5, 2019

Jordan Down had an opportunity two minutes later, and again at the 14th minute, but the ball missed to the right.

The Lancers kept the pressure on the Roadrunners, moving the ball with precision and maintaining possession for most of the opening 20 minutes of action.

At the 21st minute, Amy Aquino returned the favor to Badawiya, passing a through ball between two defenders to give Badawiya a 1-on-1 opportunity with the Roadrunners' keeper. Badawiya took her time, and like Aquino, used her left foot to put the Lancers up by two.

💃Trading Places 💃

Amy Aquino returns the favor and sets up Rola Badawiya for the second goal of the game! #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/kfhnnIqOm0
— CBU Women's Soccer (@CBUwsoccer) October 5, 2019

CSU Bakersfield responded five minutes later, though, as Caitlin Goetjen found the back of the net at the 26th minute to keep the Roadrunners' hopes still alive.

After the first 45 minutes, the Lancers went into the break with a 2-1 lead and outshooting the Roadrunners, 7-5.

The Roadrunners showed some urgency coming out of the break, putting a shot on frame at the 64th minute, but Romy Salvador made the diving save to keep the Lancers on top.

✋✋✋

Romy Salvador with a huge save after the ball slipped through her hands! #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/xggaQ6aFGL
— CBU Women's Soccer (@CBUwsoccer) October 5, 2019

Karley Weeks put the icing on the cake in the 68th minute, as the sophomore made a move inside the box on the right side and fired a low shot that put the game away for good.

👀👀👀

Karley Weeks adds to the Lancer total with this low shot! #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/TT9BuL3pMt
— CBU Women's Soccer (@CBUwsoccer) October 5, 2019

"Defensively, in the first half, our performance was just OK, but I was impressed with the execution and performance in the second half. That industrious mentality and grit to lock down and finish a game is the sign of a maturing team."

Badawiya was credited with the game-winner, and the junior forward has now scored three straight game-winners for the Lancers. Dow and Elisa Soderholm both finished with a team-high three shots.

"We know we need to focus on one game at a time and prove ourselves every game to earn the result we want. We'll enjoy this result tonight and turn our focus to NM State on Sunday."

CBU will look to keep the momentum going into Sunday, Oct. 6, when they finish the opening conference weekend at NM State. The game is set to start at noon (PST).