Matadors Earn 4-3 Win in OT on Senior Day

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

Kourtney Kutscher knocked in a penalty shot in the 99^th minute to lift CSUN Women's Soccer (11-8-1, 4-3-1 Big West) to a 4-3 win over UC Santa Barbara (13-5-1, 6-2 Big West) on Sunday afternoon at Matador Soccer Field. Kutscher recorded the first brace of her career and seniors Tabatha Dickson and Kendall Moskal ended their CSUN careers in style with goals in the victory. Senior Lyndsey Preston concluded her four seasons with the Matadors with an assist while fellow senior Cynthia Tafoya picked up her 16^th career win.

"This team has never given up in any game we have ever played," said Keith West about the Matadors' 4-3 victory. "You can go back to all the tough teams we've played and all the tough environments we've played in, we've never given up. That's one thing I have to give this team so much credit for. They've had a never say die attitude all year."

Prior to the match, four Matador seniors including Dickson, Moskal, Preston and Tafoya were honored in a special pregame ceremony to showcase their individual accomplishments during their time with CSUN. With emotions already at a fever pitch, the Matadors took the field and looked to end their season on a high note.

CSUN immediately went on the offense in the early moments of the match, leading to a score on the game's first shot. After a CSUN pass went into the UCSB box, the Gaucho defense was able to momentarily break up a play going to the net. However, Dickson would quickly recover the ball and fire a 20-yard shot into the net to put the Matadors in front.

Not content with the early lead, the Matadors struck again on a quick score off the break. Preston delivered a short pass to Kutscher who scored from the left side of the box into the right corner of the net.

On the other side of the field, the Matador defense held the UCSB offense at bay, limiting the Gauchos to three shots in the first 45 minutes of action.

Shortly after halftime, CSUN built a 3-0 lead, taking advantage of a Gaucho foul inside the 18-yard UCSB box in the 48^th minute. Moskal stepped up and calmly knocked in her third goal of the season to add to the Matador lead.

Despite trailing by three goals in the second half, the Gauchos came storming back with a series of scores to claw back into the game. Maddie Gibson found the netting on goals in the 58^th and 65^th minute to trim the CSUN lead. In the 69^th minute, Amanda Ball squared the game at 3-3 off a score from 15 yards out.

Both teams would battle back and forth to end regulation as Tafoya made a pair of stops to keep the game tied. Preston had perhaps the Matadors' best look at the net in the second period as she beat her defender and moved into the box but her shot rolled wide of the net.

In overtime, the CSUN defense withstood three UCSB corner kick opportunities to give itself a chance at the net on the other side of the field. As the Matadors pressed the UCSB defense, the pivotal moment of the match occurred as a handball inside the Gaucho box allowed Kutscher to take a penalty kick.

Kutscher took advantage of the opportunity to rifle in her second goal of the game and give the Matadors the victory. The score was her sixth goal of the season and her first career game winner.

"I knew I had to step up," said Kutscher about the deciding goal in the extra period. "I practice [penalty kicks] a lot and I just wanted to win it in overtime because we've had a few overtime games that we didn't win. I just wanted to step up for my team."

With the win, the Matadors snapped a three-game losing streak in overtime dating back to last season. CSUN also finished its season going 6-0 when leading at the half. The Matadors' 11 wins are the most since the 2012 campaign.

Despite missing out on postseason play, the Matadors enjoyed several highlights in 2015 including Cynthia Sanchez breaking the school's all-time single season scoring record with 11 goals, the team matching their best six-game start in 10 seasons and CSUN boasting 12 different Matadors with goals on the season including 17 individuals with points.

SENIOR DAY PHOTO GALLERY

Matadors Earn 4-3 Win in OT on Senior Day

Team Stats

Kourtney Kutscher

Kendall Moskal

Tabatha Dickson

Lyndsey Preston

Players Mentioned

Tabatha Dickson

Kourtney Kutscher

Kendall Moskal

Lyndsey Preston

Cynthia Sanchez

Cynthia Tafoya