A Step Back to Move Forward

The CSUB cross country team hosted the 5K Roadrunner Invitational last Saturday afternoon. Despite not taking the team or the individual title, the Roadrunners lined the course with personal and collective improvement.

1. Arianna Celis and Casey Glasey continue to establish themselves as the team's top runners. Celis ran a personal best time of 18:30.20. That time is almost 29 seconds faster than any mark turned in last season by a member of the CSUB team. Glasey's 18:32.60 also clear's 2008's best mark by nearly 17 seconds.

2. Lina Nuñez also took a step forward this past weekend, finishing third on the team in 19:33.20. That's over a five second improvement from last season's race and marks the first time this season she has ducked under 20 for the season.

3. True freshman Cecilia Lopez has also been fairly consistent in the middle of the pack in 2009. She has already broken 20 minutes at 5K and is picking up quality experience in highly competitive meets.

4. Despite taking a small step backwards at the meet, sophomore Judith Mata has made a great stride forward in 2009. Mata has already broken the 20 minute barrier twice, a feat that she was unable to accomplish as a freshman. Her 19:24.7 at the UC Riverside Invitational is the team's third fastest individual time of the year.

Cutting Strokes, Making Strides

The CSUB women's golf team opened the 2009-10 season with the lowest first-round team score since the inception of the program in 2006-07. The Roadrunners shot a combined 321 on the opening day of the Mountain Shootout in Flaggstaff, Ariz., and followed that with a 318 – the lowest team round in school history.

Along with broken team records, junior Ashley Neal, fresh off the second sub-par round of her life on her way to winning the Kern County Women's Amateur Golf Championship, tied the CSUB record of 74 on the second day of the tournament.

Consistency in all aspects of the game will be the key for the Roadrunner squad as they head off to their next tournament on Oct. 5-6 – the Cal Poly Coast BMW Tournament, held at the Monarch Dunes Golf Course in Nipoma.

The Halfway Post

The CSUB women's soccer program has now passed the halfway point of the season following Sunday's contest against Hawaii. The season's defining win may have come in the opening weekend with the win over San Diego but there are plenty of other history making opportunities in the second half of the year as well.

1. CSUB is a combined 1–13–1 against the remaining opponents on the schedule. Cal State Fullerton and North Dakota have never faced the Roadrunners.

2. Long Beach State, the only win CSUB has recorded against remaining opponents, was a NCAA Tournament participant in 2008.

3. Seattle currently holds a 6-0 advantage over the Roadrunners. A win over another NCAA DI transitioning team would be a good measure for where the 'Runners are at.

4. The 2008 team finished the season with a 1–8–0 record during its final nine contests. CSUB will play three of those same opponents this season to close out its schedule.

A couple thoughts midway through:

1. Head Coach Nicole Van Dyke seems to have found a group that she is most comfortable out on the field with. In the first eight games of the season, her bench extended to 7.125 subs per game. In the past two contest, that number has dropped to three in each game. She also stayed with the same starting lineup in back-to-back games for the first time since opening weekend.

2. Kassi Massey, Alexa Ngo, Tara Corcoran, Kym Gause and Sarah Gaskins all have started each contest for the Roadrunners. While the first four listed have been stabilized in each poistion throughout the year, Gaskins has moved from defender to midfielder to starting at forward the past two contests. Brittany Thomas, Sam Peña and Daisy Vazquez have each made nine starts while appearing in all 10 games.

3. Gause continues to move up the Roadrunners' record book. She is now 11th in single season saves (58) and is tied for ninth in shutouts (2). Her 855 minutes thus far puts her in 15th place.

A 'Runner Reunion In North Carolina

The CSUB men's soccer team heads to Charlotte, N.C., this week for a pair of matches as part of the UNCC/Nike Invitational. Sunday's match will feature the Roadrunners against Appalachian State, but it's Friday night's contest against host UNC Charlotte that should peak the most interest for Roadrunner fans.

A pair of familiar faces now walk the sidelines for the 49ers in the form of Head Coach Jeremy Gunn and Assistant Coach Kyle Gookins. Gunn was a standout on the 'Runner side from 1989-92, earning three first team All-CCAA selections while twice being named to the NSCAA All-Far West team. He remains at the top of CSUB's career record book in goals (46), assists (36) and points (128). He went on to serve as an assistant coach for the 'Runner men's and women's teams from 1993-99, and was named the CCAA women's coach of the year in 1997. Gookins is a more recent familiar face, having donned a 'Runner kit from 2000-03 and walking the sideline from 2007-08.

Coming off a two-match homestand that featured a 3-2 win over UC Riverside and a 1-1 draw against St. Mary's, the Roadrunners, now 2-2-1, open play at 7:30 p.m. (Eastern) against the 2-2-1 49ers. Charlotte is ranked No. 1 in the latest NSCAA Regional poll and should be the more formidable opponent of the weekend for CSUB.

This past weekend, the 'Runners got a pair of goals from redshirt freshman Evan Fassler and will continue to look for his speed up top. Senior co-captain Matt Shaxton, provided the assists on both of Fassler's strikes, and continues to provide leadership and distribution from the central midfield.

Rowdy About Reading connects CSU Bakersfield Athletes to local kids

The Rowdy About Reading program is about to kick off it’s 7^th year and continues to be a great vehicle to connect CSUB athletes to local kids. It’s a win-win-win-win! The kids win – they are encouraged to read and rewarded for doing so. The teachers win – they have access to a no-cost program that the kids seem to enjoy. The student-athletes win – they have a ton of fun on school visits and really enjoy the interaction with the kids. The community wins – connecting nearly 6,000 local youth to successful young adults who are, arguably, some of the most successful on the CSUB campus through a reading program.

Thanks to our always generous partners in the program: Bank of America, Bakersfield West Rotary, Subway Sandwiches, 107.9 KUZZ, The Bakersfield Californian, and B.E.T.A (Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Assoc.). We couldn’t do it without you!

Registrations for K-6 classrooms are being accepted through 10/2. The contest begins 10/6. Visit gorunners.com to register on-line or call 654-6226 for more information.

Fresno State Awaits

Hard to believe its already week number four of the women's soccer season. After a rough outing last Friday against UC Davis, the 'Runners bounced back strong to take down a very strong Cal Poly team that finished third in the Big West last season (5–3–0).

Hopes may have been deflated early as the Roadrunner defense let in an early goal in just the third minute of play. Adding to the uphill climb CSUB was facing was the fact that the team had yet to score a goal in the first half of play in 2009. But freshman midfielder Sam Peña (who came off the bench for the first time this season and I suspect the first time in a very long while) took a nice pass from sophomore Veronica Ramos and hit a curling shot from 25 yards. Junior Faith Perry would score in the 42nd minute and the Roadrunner defense would hold from there, moving CSUB to 3–1 at home.

The win was CSUB's second comeback victory this season. The upset victory over then–No. 13 San Diego was CSUB's first since October 23, 2008 against Utah Valley.

A couple thoughts heading into the weekend:

1. Jamie Havelin had one of her best games of the season on Sunday, coming off the bench and sparking the Roadrunner defense. The additions of Tara Corcoran and Brittany Thomas have been key as well but the progression of Havelin's play has really elevated the back line's presence in games. Raquel Gervas and Sarah Gaskins have also provided valuable minutes on the back line.

2. Over the past three contests, goalkeeper Kym Gause has tallied 21 total saves including a season high nine saves on Sunday. She made a huge save late in the contest on Sunday to deny Cal Poly a tying goal, diving to her left, fully extended.

3. Fresno State, the defending WAC champions, have yet to win a game this year (0–5–0). Always dangerous playing a team, in their own stadium. On top of the Bulldogs' frustrations has been the in ability to score goals. Fresno State has yet to score a goal in 2009 (exception being an exhibition game). Expect to see a hungry team that needs a win to get back on track. Even with a new head coach, there is no other non-conference win the Bulldogs would rather have than against the Roadrunners.

See you on the field on Friday night!!

Ups and Downs in Oregon, Looking Ahead to This Week's Home Opener

In their first major roadtrip of the season, the Roadrunners opened play at the OSU/Nike Challenge with a 3-0 shutout of Houston Baptist. The win was significant in a number of ways, beginning with the squad's first win of the 2009 season. The three goals, scored by Omar Heredia, Matt Shaxton and Oscar Coppieters, equaled the most goals scored in a single match by CSUB since the move to Division I. It was also the first time they had accomplished the feat in regulation, as the only other time they netted three goals was a 3-2 overtime victory over Cal State Fullerton in 2008.

The win was also a move in the right direction for the CSUB defense, as it marked the fourth shutout victory since moving to Division I. All three previous shutouts were 1-0 finals. Finally, it marked the largest margin of victory, with all previous wins since 2007 being by just one goal.

Struggles followed two days later against Pac-10 member Oregon State, however, as the Beavers' powerful offense pushed it's way to a 4-0 win over the 'Runners.

This weekend, CSUB will look to regroup and take advantage of a pair of matches on their home field. Friday's opponent is UC Riverside (0-2-0) while Sunday features a meeting with Saint Mary's (2-0-1). The Highlanders have dropped a pair of one-goal decisions, including a 2-1 overtime loss to Saint Mary's on Sunday. The Gaels other win came in the form of a 1-0 final against Alabama A&M.

The Roadrunners hold a 1-0-1 record against UC Riverside in the Division I era, including a 2-1 victory one season ago. CSUB has also found recent success against Saint Mary's, posting a 1-0 win over the Gaels in 2007.

Williamson Nearly Breaks Record At Sac State

Lost in the excitement of the Roadrunner volleyball team's thrilling comeback win over Sacramento State Friday night was the near record-breaking performance of senior libero Kayla Williamson.

The match was a war of attrition, with both teams earning points and sets as much by surviving rallies as by winning them. Nobody was more responsible for keeping her team in those extended rallies than Williamson, who posted 39 digs, an almost unheard of number for rally-scoring matches, especially in the NCAA's second year of 25-point scoring.

Williamson set the CSUB record with 41 in a five-set win over Sonoma State on Oct. 13, 2006 (her mark Friday night is the Roadrunner record at the NCAA Division I level). We're checking with the NCAA to see where that mark ranks all-time among DI defenders, given that the current record book doesn't list a digs record set after 2006 (when the 30-point scoring format was still in use).

WIlliamson needs just eight kills in Saturday's tournament finale versus UC Riverside to move into the CSUB career top 10 for digs. She should return from the Texas trip as the 10th player in Roadrunner history to record 1,000 digs.

The Roadrunners Need You Now More Than Ever

I wanted to share with you some of the significant accomplishments and serious concerns that the Roadrunner Athletic Program has experienced since our transition to NCAA Division I. It is a classic story of good news and bad news.

I want to focus on the good news first. Most important is to sincerely thank you for being a part of advancing the university’s goals. Shortly after we started this process, nearly four years ago, the NCAA declared a moratorium on institutions seeking Division I status and passed more stringent rules. The NCAA’s goal is to limit the number of NCAA Division I institutions and close the door on institutions seeking upward mobility. The NCAA is currently trying to change the $15,000 Division I application fee to $1 million.

Nevertheless, we have overcome many obstacles and will be completing our final year of NCAA Division I reclassification this June. We are very proud of the hard work and effort that has gone into elevating the status of the University, its athletic program, and this region. In terms of academic excellence, for example, this past year we were able to accomplish the following: Seven teams, previously under the required NCAA APR of 925, now have exceeded the required 925. Five of the teams, including Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s Golf, Men’s Soccer and Women’s Water Polo, stand at the highest score of 1000 (Men’s Wrestling is at 984 and Women’s Soccer at 963). In addition, 5 of our teams have an average GPA above a 3.0 as of the end of Winter Quarter and no team is below a 2.5.

The move to Division I has brought an even higher caliber of student-athlete. The quality of competition, the development of new facilities such as Hardt Field and the Recreation Center and the addition of baseball have all improved the image and substance of our University.

The bad news is that the budget crisis, particularly as it impacts CSUB’s Athletics Program, has been significant. Not only has it reduced staffing and state support, it has also increased our scholarship fees this year by 30%, which amounts to more than $250,000 in additional and unexpected expenses. Cumulatively, it also marks the third consecutive year of state budget reductions. Our ability to turn this around will depend upon our ability to encourage community volunteers to help us and to make significant progress in growing our donor base. Without considerable growth and support in both of these areas, it will have a profound effect on our future.

One can easily see that we need growth and not reductions in support to be able to sustain the 19 Division I sports we currently offer. While the average donation has grown over the last few years, the number of donors has fallen. We really need your help, and there are many ways that you can assist us. For example, if each of our current donors recruited just one new donor, we could double our donor base. It is that simple, and you could make that happen.

There are many ways to be involved. Our special events require volunteers, our teams need fan support and sponsorships are an effective way to promote any business while supporting the University. In order to grow our support, we ask that you encourage a friend to become involved.

We have a small staff that is committed to working hard to make this a successful NCAA Division I university. We have a short window, less than a year, to get this done. The time to act is now! Together we can give our deserving student-athletes the best chance to succeed in the classroom and in the arena of competition by expanding our donor base and providing a greater understanding of the importance of your donations. These contributions fund scholarships, the lifeblood of our sports program and result in educational opportunities for our student-athletes. This is so important. It is critical to our success, and yes, even our survival. The future of YOUR CSUB sports program will ultimately be decided by what each of us does to make it strong.

You can make a difference by a simple click of your mouse on our website. Send this letter and the link to five friends and ask for a scholarship donation to the Roadrunner Club or other avenues of support. We really need your help.

What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas

The CSUB women's soccer team returns home after dropping its first two contests of the season at the UNLV Nike Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.

Freshman Raquel Gervas was called to take a penalty kick for the second time this season. Last year, CSUB earned just one penalty kick. Departed senior Alexa Vickroy scored against the University of the Pacific on senior day.

During both weekend games, CSUB used different lineups from the opening weekend. Sophomore Maritza Rumbo earned the starting nod on Friday while junior Faith Perry and Gervas started on Sunday.

Interesting note: In the Roadrunners' two wins, CSUB committed five more fouls than its opponents. In the two losses, CSUB trailed in fouls, 25–18.

No yellow cards for the 'Runners all weekend either so expect to see everyone this weekend for the homestand.

New Faces Lead Cross Country

The CSUB cross country team opened its 2009 season at Pepperdine University on Tuesday evening. Talking with Head Coach Robert Boyles during the offseason gave me the strong impression that there would be some new faces at the front of the pack for the Roadrunners this year.

Riverside Community College transfers Arianna Celis and Casey Glassey were CSUB's top finishers at Pepperdine, placing second and fifth, respectively. Running on one of the west coast's more challenging courses, both juniors ran very well and drew praise from Boyles. Last season, CSUB was unable to displace any of the Wave's top five place finishers. On Tuesday, both Celis and Glassey were right in the mix of Pepperdine's top runners.

On a scheduling note, Pepperdine, along with Fresno State and Westmont, have committed to running at the Roadrunner Invitational on September 26. CSUB's 5-kilometer course has produced some of the region's fastest times.

Finishing ninth overall was sophomore Judith Mata. Mata steadily improved over the course of the season and her time of 20:27 on Tuesday's 5K course would have been her second fastest time from last season. She ran a 20:00.63 on CSUB's extremely fast course in 2008. Look for her to duck under 20 minutes at next week's Irvine Invitational.

In just her first collegiate meet, freshman Cecilia Lopez placed 15th overall. The Bakersfield native ran 20:19 and was the second fastest freshman in the race behind Pepperdine's Megan Doeding.