Sept. 27, 2009

Box Score

Bakersfield, Calif. - In its final tune-up before West Coast Conference play begins, 20th-ranked LMU was victimized by an early goal and was upended 1-0 by hosts Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday night. The loss (5-3-0) snaps the Lions' two-game winning streak but, even with the loss, LMU enters WCC play next week with its best record since the conference switched to a double round-robin format in 2004.

The Lions had the most play early, forcing two early corner kicks and bringing a pair of saves out of CSUB goalie Eric Shannon. The Roadrunners had a chance of their own, nearly breaking through in the 15th minute when Ernesto Hinojosa saw his shot come back off the post.

LMU entered the match having won all three previous meetings against the Roadrunners (4-3-1) but last year's game required overtime before the Lions could pull it out. This time, CSUB used Wayne Lampart's 19th-minute goal to take the lead. Lampart advanced the ball up the left and unleashed a shot from outside the penalty box that beat sophomore goalkeeper Jack McCormack.

Lampart's goal stood up as the Lions pushed forward in the second half. LMU had three shots in the final 10 minutes in search of the equalizer but could not get any to go. With 7:50 left, junior Rafael Baca was denied by Shannon. With less than four minutes remaining, LMU earned a corner and freshman Chris Bernardi, fresh off his game-winner over UC Riverside, got his head to a cross, only to see the ball sail wide. In the final minute, Baca got loose for the final of his four shots on the day, but again the ball went wide, ending LMU's comeback hopes.

McCormack suffered his first loss of the season despite making five saves. Shannon also stopped five shots for Bakersfield, who held a 12-10 shot advantage.

The Lions open at home against defending conference champions San Francisco next Friday, October 2, at 4 p.m.