Sept. 23, 2007

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific soccer team notched its fifth win of the year with a 2-0 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday, September 23. With the win the Tigers moved to 5-2-1 overall while the Roadrunners dropped to 2-6 on the season.

A slow game through the first 45 minutes of the contest picked up in the second half for both the Tigers and the Roadrunners as Pacific held a slight 6-5 shot advantage in the final half. However, the Tigers took advantage of their six second half opportunities as they struck twice to remain a perfect 4-0 at home this season.

Senior Carla Vellutini (Elk Grove, Calif.) struck first for the Tigers in the 58th minute of action as she made a run on the backside of the Roadrunners' defense to the back post where senior Natalie McCrackin (Rio Linda, Calif.) found her for the score. McCrackin laced a ball through the middle of the box untouched to the foot of Vellutini who redirected the pass into the back of the net. The goal was Vellutini's second of the season while the assist was McCrackin's second.

Up one goal the Tigers continued to press the action as they looked for the insurance goal that eluded them on Friday night. Senior Bunny Dickson (Millbrae, Calif.), the lone scorer from a game ago, obliged her team with a safety strike in the 78th minute to put Pacific up by the final count of 2-0. Dickson, as she has done now four times this season, used her speed to get behind the defense and onto the end of a perfectly slotted pass through the defense, this time off the foot of junior Andrea Carrara (Belmont, Calif.). Behind the defense and in a 1v1 situation with Nicole Padilla, Cal State Bakersfield's 'keeper, Dickson rolled a shot past Padilla's right before she could close the gap. The goal gave Dickson nine points on the year and and share for the team lead while the assist was Carrara's first point of 2007.

Two goals were enough cushion for the Tigers as Pacific's defense led by senior 'keeper Jaime Souza (Gig Harbor, Wash.) posted their fifth shutout of the season. The Tigers gave up seven shots on the day with three being on frame for Souza to save. Padilla posted two saves on four shots on goal.

The Tigers will be back in action on Friday, September 28 as they play host to UNLV at Stagg Memorial Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm.