BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--Gyasi Zardes (R-So., Hawthorne, Calif., Leuzinger HS) recorded the first hat trick by a CSU Bakersfield Men’s Soccer player since 2001 to lead the Roadrunners past UC Riverside 5-1 in the season opener for both schools Saturday night.  
Zardes’ hat trick was the first for CSUB since the program made the move to Division I in 2006 and is only the sixth in school history at either the Division I or Division II level. Zardes.  He also added an assist for a total of seven points, a new CSU Bakersfield Division I Men’s Soccer record, and ties Ayaman Hamid (vs. Cal State East Bay, 9/10/95) for the overall school mark.

Richard Menjivar (Sr., Panorama, Calif., Univ. of Evansville) posted three assists, a new CSUB Division I record. Kory Kindle (Jr., Ventura, Calif., Ventura HS) scored the opening goal of the night in the 12th minute. Jesus Sanchez (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Castle Park HS) scored at 17:10 before Zardes tallied his first goal of the night 17 seconds later.  Zardes scored in the 25th and 73rd minutes as well.

The Roadrunners also set new Division I school record for most goals in a match (the old mark of 3 was set eight times), assists (7, previous record was four, set two times), points (17/old record was 10 vs. Denver, 11/1/09).

“I think a lot of times for your first game of the season, you are always on edge,” said CSUB Head Coach Simon Tobin. “Most games are close, but we are just so dangerous going forward. I think we have three or four best attackers in the country. With those weapons its makes it easier.  Tonight it was (great) to get goals early, that makes things easier this time of the year.”

The Roadrunner return to action Sept. 2 when CSUB hosts Southern Utah. The match will begin at 7 p.m.


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