BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Hawai'i soccer team took an early lead but couldn't hang on in a 2-1 loss at Cal State Bakersfield Sunday night.
 
The loss ended the Rainbow Wahine's hopes of climbing into the top six of the conference standings in order to qualify for the Big West Championship. The 'Bows currently sit at 10 points and will be unable to catch wither the Roadrunners (16 points) or UC Irvine (15 points) who sit in fifth and sixth place.
 
For the second straight match, the Rainbow Wahine got on the board early to go up 1-0 within the first 10 minutes. Izzy Ayala gave UH the advantage at the 3:02 mark of the first half when she headed in an Alice Davidson corner kick for her second goal of the year.
 
Bakersfield would equalize in the 23^rd minute when Mya Clarke scored on a second chance attempt on a corner kick, making it 1-1. The two teams each had a number of good looks at goal in the opening half, with UH holding a slight 9-8 shot advantage while both sides had five shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
 
The Roadrunners took the lead for good in the 63rd minute when Jaiden Gore got a free kick opportunity just outside the box following a UH foul. Gore ripped a low liner that beat Hawai'i keeper Kennedy Justin and made it 2-1 at the 62:35 mark.
 
The free kick goal is just the seventh second-half goal that UH has allowed all season and just the second time that the 'Bows have surrendered a goal after the half in the last 11 matches.
 
The Rainbow Wahine return home to close out the season with Senior Night vs. UC Irvine on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Waipi'o Soccer Stadium. Following the match, Hawai'i will honor a group of 10 seniors.