The California State East Bay women’s soccer team won their first conference road game last weekend after suffering an unfortunate overtime loss against California State University San Bernardino.

Easy Bay traveled to Southern California over the weekend for the second time this season. On Friday they faced California State San Bernardino (6-5-1 overall, 5-2-1 conference) where they were forced to play their third overtime match in a row.

Senior midfielder Tia Sidtikun put the Pioneers ahead early when she capitalized off a corner kick by Andrea Hernandez in the 7th minute.

However, ten minutes later, San Bernardino tied the game when senior midfielder Rachael Figg received a quality pass from senior defender Megan Todd, shot to the bottom right of the net and scored.

The two teams remained tied at 1-1 for the remainder of the game and went into double overtime, where the Pioneers ultimately lost the battle. San Bernardino’s senior midfielder Susan Ibarra drove down an almost wide open field and shot a laser that beat East Bay’s keeper, Jazmine Corbett, giving her team the win in the 108th minute.

“She countered attack very quickly and it cost us,” said Sidtikun. “We had way too many opportunities to finish the game early, especially in overtime when we had a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.”

Playing on the road has been tough for the Pioneers, but they found a way to finally win on Sunday against Cal Poly Pomona (5-5-2, 4-3-1).

In the fourth minute of the game, East Bay was fouled inside the box and was rewarded with a penalty kick that was scored by senior forward Megan Ravenscroft.

Six minutes after the goal, senior midfielder Sialei Manuleleua tried to split her defenders in the run of play and was tripped by another Cal Poly defender 30 yards out. Sophomore defender Savannah Schultz stepped up to the plate to take the free kick and placed the ball perfectly into the top left corner of the goal. It was the defender’s first goal of the season.

“The goal was well in my shooting range,” said Schultz. “I normally take the free kicks and I did not really think too much when I was given the opportunity, I was confident in my shot.”

The Cal Poly Broncos continued to attack and pressure the Pioneers, but East Bay did not let it break them and only allowed one goal in the last five minutes of the game.

Despite the goal, the Pioneers defended very well throughout the game, with goalkeeper Corbett recording three saves, and fortunately putting two goals in the net.

“When we are persistent, encouraging and positive with one another on the field, good things happen for us,” said Sidtikun. “I have to continue to be a leader on the field to help my team as a midfielder. Organizing, communicating and using my vision and what I see to distribute and help give us more opportunities to win.”

The women are currently 2-4 in conference and 3-6-3 overall and have six games left to put themselves in playoff position.

“It won’t be easy and we know that we are in a very good conference,” expressed Schultz.

That tough conference play continues on Sunday when the Pioneers host Chico State (6-6-1, 2-6-0) at 11:30 a.m. at Pioneer Stadium.