BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A slow start by the Cal State Bakersfield(m) men’s soccer team led to three first-half goals by Sacramento State and the Hornets held on for a 3-1 final in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action Sunday on the Main Soccer Field.

Bakersfield (6-6-2, 1-3-0 MPSF), playing without starting defenders Peter Carlson (injury) and Wayne Lampart (suspension), struggled to organize it’s back line early on and Sac State (8-5-1, 4-0-0 MPSF) took immediate advantage. Just 1:37 into the match, a Hornet forward got inside position on Chico Ruesga as they went after a through ball sent into the right side of the box. Fighting to break up the play, Ruesga was called for a foul and Sac State was awarded a penalty kick. Ernesto Carranza sent the PK opposite of a diving Eric Shannon, putting CSUB in a 1-0 hole.

The early onslaught of shots continued at the 9:11 mark when Shannon punched away a rocket shot by Fernando Cabadas. Five minutes later, Shannon came up with another tremendous save, tipping a header by Scott Crandall just over the crossbar. At the 20-minute mark Shannon made his third save of the game on a shot by Max Alvarez.

The Hornet attack slowed after that as the Roadrunners began to find their form and work the ball up to their front line. However, in the final five minutes of the half, David Norton and Carranza tallied goals just one minute apart to push the Sac State lead to 3-0. Norton headed home a corner kick cross from Cabadas and Carranza bent a free kick ball around the CSUB wall for his second goal of the match.

Bakersfield again picked up the pace in the second half, putting much more pressure on the Hornet defense. The scoreless drought ended in the 72nd minute when Joe Polifroni tallied his first goal of the season. After working the ball up the right side of the pitch, Jesus Sanchez crossed a ball into the mix where Ken Taylor was able to flick it on to Polifroni for a header from one yard out.

Alvaro Garcia had a chance to cut the deficit in half eight minutes later, but his header attempt was cleared off the line by a Hornet defender.

Shannon finished the match with five saves while Bryan Oliver made three saves for the Hornets.

With just three matches remaining on their 2009 schedule, the Roadrunners will look to close out the home portion of the season on a high note next week. Friday, CSUB hosts MPSF opponent Air Force at 7 p.m. followed by a 1 p.m. Sunday start against Denver.