"I am disappointed in the result," said head coach Brad Agoos. "I thought we played well enough to win, but the final pass and final clearance, all the little things that make up winning a game were not there today."
"Our play has to get better. In between the 18 to 18 it was okay, but it wasn't good enough in either box. Like I said, it was a game I thought we played well enough to win, but we give Bakersfield credit because they found a way to win at the end of it," concluded Agoos.
The first half saw possession turnover regularly, with the Redhawks seeing better looks on goal. SU outshot Bakersfield 7-3, with three shots on target to CSUB's one. Senior Sean Morris (Bothell, Wash.) led both sides with three shots, including two on net, in the game. In the final seconds of action before halftime Morris took the ball inside the Roadrunner box. He slammed in a shot at the 44:57 minute mark, but CSUB's goalkeeper Eric Shannon was able to get his gloves on it. Defender Demaci Roussos (Sacramento, Calif.) followed through on the 'keeper's deflection and had an open look on the goal, but his shot went just high above the crossbar sending the game into intermission.
Throughout the second half the Redhawks found ways to push the ball deep into the Roadrunner half. They worked to put plays together and find the back of the net, but were unsuccessful in getting off shots on target.
In the 78th minute, Bakersfield's Ken Taylor took a free kick. He found Justin Finch near the left post, who headed in the go-ahead goal. Taylor's goal would prove to be the difference maker, as Seattle U's offense was unable to rebound from the late deficit.
In the game, CSUB outshot SU 14-10, seeing five shots on target to Seattle U's three. Between the pipes Redhawk 'keeper Ivan Dizdar (Croatia) had four saves in 90 minutes of work.
Seattle U will look to bounce back this weekend. They will host San Jose State on Friday, Oct. 8, in a 1 p.m. match and close out the weekend with Sacramento State on Sunday, Oct. 10, in a 1:30 p.m. contest.