CSUN Set to Compete in Nike Portland Invitational, Faces Washington and Portland

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NORTHRIDGE, CA---

Winners of five straight, CSUN Women's Soccer (5-1) travels to the Pacific Northwest to face Washington and Portland in the Nike Portland Invitational beginning Friday. CSUN squares off with Washington on Friday at 4:30 p.m. followed by a Sunday meeting with host Portland at 2:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available for both contests. Sunday's match with Portland will be streamed via the West Coast Conference's network, TheW.tv.

The Matadors head into weekend competition on a five-game winning streak after posting a 2-1 road win over Fresno State last Friday and a 3-0 victory at home against Detroit on Sunday. CSUN has matched its best start in 10 seasons and has tied the 2001, 2005 and 2008 teams with the most wins through six games. The Matadors also boast their longest winning streak under head coach Keith West.

Sophomore Cynthia Sanchez had a week to remember last week as she scored three goals in two games to help CSUN to a pair of victories. At Fresno State, Kourtney Kutscher assisted Sanchez on a score in the 21^st minute and in the 33^rd minute, Sanchez scored again, capitalizing on a long kick from Breanna McCallum. The Matadors held on to a 2-1 victory to win their first road game of the season.

Just two days later, Sanchez tallied her third goal of the week, utilizing a pass from Lyndsey Preston to score in the second minute to ignite the Matador offense to a 3-0 win over Detroit. Lindsay Kutscher and Kendall Moskal also added goals to post their first points of the season.

For her efforts, Sanchez earned Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors on September 8. She has scored in five straight contests and has already doubled her entire goal total from last year with her six goals this season.

Up next, the Matadors embark on a weekend trip to Portland with matches set against the Washington Huskies and Portland Pilots. The Matadors have never faced the Huskies before and have only faced Portland three times.

A CLOSER LOOK AT WASHINGTON

Washington (4-1) has won four straight after posting home wins against Illinois, 2-1, and Michigan, 1-0, last weekend. In this week's polls, the Huskies received votes in the NCSAA coaches' poll and are ranked No. 20 in the TopDrawerSoccer poll. In 2014, the Huskies advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in their school history.

In net, senior goalkeeper Megan Kufeld posted the 18^th shutout of her career against Michigan to move her into a first-place tie with Hope Solo for the most shutouts in program history. Kufeld earned Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week honors on Sept. 8 after tallying eight saves against Michigan. On the season, she has posted 21 saves and two shutouts including four wins.

Seven different Huskies have recorded goals this season with junior Amanda Perez leading the way with two goals. Sophomore Shannon Simon has posted the most points on the team with five.

A CLOSER LOOK AT PORTLAND

Portland is 1-4 this season and has dropped its last four matches. The Pilots went 0-2 in the Husky Invitational last weekend including falling to Michigan, 5-0, and Illinois, 1-0. In its history with CSUN, Portland is 2-0-1 against the Matadors.

Five Pilots have tallied a goal in 2015 including junior Allison Wetherington who leads the team with three points. Junior goalkeeper Hanna de Haan has registered the most minutes in net with over 289 to go along with nine saves.

CSUN Set to Compete in Nike Portland Invitational, Faces Washington and Portland

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Players Mentioned

Kourtney Kutscher

Lindsay Kutscher

Breanna McCallum

Kendall Moskal

Lyndsey Preston

Cynthia Sanchez