The NCAA News - News and Features

December 15, 1997

Experienced Cal State Bakersfield takes II championship title

Experience won the battle vs. youth as Cal State Bakersfield's senior-laden team downed host Lynn, 1-0, in the title game of the Division II Men's Soccer Championship December 7.

Ben Mains, one of seven seniors for the Roadrunners, converted a pass from classmate Kris Larson in the second half to provide the game's lone goal. Goalkeeper Brandon Hearron stopped three Lynn scoring chances in posting the shutout.

The title is the first for Cal State Bakersfield (20-4), which twice fought through sudden-death overtime in preliminary-round games.

"This is what we've been working toward for four years," Mains said. "Our goal was the national championship, and it's great to win it as a senior. It's a dream come true."

Cal State Bakersfield's dream was preserved when an apparent second-half Lynn goal was nullified by an offside violation.

"Give Bakersfield credit," Lynn coach Shaun Pendleton said. "They managed to take us out of our game. We didn't play particularly well and they played great defense. We had some chances in the second half and couldn't finish them."

"Lynn will be back here again real soon," Roadrunners coach Simon Tobin said. "They have a very young team. But this was our time. I had seven seniors on the field, and I think that made a difference. They did not want to lose their last game."

The Roadrunners advanced by beating Truman State, 2-0, in the semifinals. Russ Miller scored once in each half and Hearron posted three saves.

Cal State Bakersfield squeaked past Seattle Pacific and West Texas A&M on sudden-death goals earlier in the tournament.

Lynn (19-2) won its semifinal game over Southern Connecticut State, 1-0, on a goal from Gareth Dunn in the game's 13th minute.

Truman State finished its season 16-6 while Southern Connecticut State completed a 21-1-1 campaign.

SEMIFINALS

Cal St. Bakersfield -- 1 -- 1 -- 2

Truman St. -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

First half: CSB -- Russ Miller (Javier Cervantes), 40:59.

Second half: CSB -- Miller (Joe Munoz), 70:04.

Shots: Cal St. Bakersfield 14, Truman St. 5. Goalkeeper saves: Cal St. Bakersfield (Brandon Hearron) 3, Truman St. (Jon Gohl) 7. Corner kicks: Cal St. Bakersfield 10, Truman St. 1. Fouls: Cal St. Bakersfield 9, Truman St. 12. Attendance: 1,187.