Matadors Suffer 1-0 Defeat, Eliminated from Big West Tournament Contention

RIVERSIDE, CA---

A score in the 23^rd minute would prove to be the game winner in CSUN Women's Soccer's (10-8-1, 3-3-1 Big West) 1-0 defeat at the hands of UC Riverside (11-8, 5-3 Big West) on Thursday night at Riverside Soccer Stadium. The loss eliminated CSUN from Big West Conference Tournament contention and gave the Matadors' their third-straight 1-0 setback.

In the match, the Matadors were outshot 17-7 and 5-1 in corner kicks as UC Riverside utilized the first half score to pull off the victory to advance into the Big West Conference Tournament.

From the outset of the match, the Matadors forced the ball into the Highlanders' side of the field on several occasions, recording four shots in the first 20 minutes of play.

In the 3^rd minute, Tabatha Dickson shot wide of the net and had her shot blocked just minutes later inside the box. Cynthia Sanchez also had looks at the net on breakaway scoring chances but both of her shots went wide.

On the other side of the pitch, UC Riverside posted its first shot on goal in the 7^th minute as goalkeeper Cynthia Tafoya registered one of her seven saves on the night on an attempt by Tyler Cunningham.

After the shot on goal, the Highlanders continued to apply the pressure, leading to a corner kick opportunity that turned the tide of the contest. Off a kick from Blanca Barrio that sailed into a crowd deep inside the box, Brittany Mata headed in a shot that struck the net.

CSUN looked for the equalizer for the remainder of the half but the Matadors were unable to get a clear look at the net over the final 22 minutes of the period.

In the second half, the Highlanders sought the knockout blow but strong defense and steady goalkeeping helped keep the Matadors within striking distance. Tafoya tallied six saves in the period including a pair of saves within minute a part in the 74^th and 75^th minutes. In an exciting sequence, Tafoya was able to poke away a shot from Cunningham on a one-on-one play inside the box.

Despite only trailing by a goal, CSUN was unable to hit the tying strike on the night. The Matadors were held to three shots in the second half with two of the three shots coming in the final 15 minutes. In the 88^th minute, Sanchez delivered the final shot of the night from less than five yards outside the box but her shot was stopped clean by Elizabeth Silas.

The Matadors return to the field for the 2015 season finale on Sunday. CSUN hosts UC Santa Barbara for Senior Day at 2 p.m. CSUN Athletics will honor Matador seniors Tafoya, Dickson, Kendall Moskal and Lyndsey Preston in a special pre-game ceremony before kickoff. The match will also be streamed live on the CSUN Sports Network through Big West.TV.

Matadors Suffer 1-0 Defeat, Eliminated from Big West Tournament Contention

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Team Stats

Cynthia Sanchez

Tabatha Dickson

Briana Geffre

Lyndsey Preston

Players Mentioned

Tabatha Dickson

Kendall Moskal

Lyndsey Preston

Cynthia Sanchez

Cynthia Tafoya