California State University Northridge Athletics
California State University at Northridge
New Mexico
CSUN Hosts New Mexico, CSU Bakersfield
9/9/2015 9:57:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Red Rally Fan Fair 9/11 at 6 pm before UNM Match
COMPLETE RELEASE IN PDF FORMAT
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN Matadors (1-2-0) return to the friendly confines of Matador Soccer Field this weekend for a pair of non-conference contests. On Friday, Sept. 11, the Matadors will lock horns with the New Mexico Lobos for the 16th time in the all-time series in a 7 p.m. tilt. Two days later, CSUN faces another regional rival when the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners come to the San Fernando Valley for a 6 p.m. contest. Both games will feature live stats and a live Spanish-audio broadcast with Eduard Cauich and Jose Avalos calling all the action. Links for both are available at GoMatadors.com. Fans are also encouraged to check with the CSUN Athletic Department's official Twitter accounts (@GoMatadors, @CSUNMensSoccer & @CSUNCapeCrew) for updates throughout the weekend.Â
Last week, CSUN suffered a pair of defeats as it traveled to Nebraska for a pair of non-conference matches. The Matadors struck early against Creighton behind Steven Manios just 90 seconds into the match, but the Bluejays rallied for a pair of second-half goals to capture a 2-1 victory. Two days later, Pol Schonhofer Bartra tied the match with Omaha just before halftime, but the Mavericks scored three times in a nine-minute span in the second half to take a 4-1 victory.Â
This week offers another pair of tests for CSUN. Both New Mexico and CSU Bakersfield are 1-1-1 on the season and coming off undefeated weekends of action. New Mexico played to a 2-2 draw with San Diego and defeated nationally ranked UCSB 2-1 at its home tournament in Albuquerque while the Roadrunners defeated UC Davis 2-1 in overtime and posted a 1-1 draw at Sacramento State.Â
Following the matches with New Mexico and CSUB, CSUN hits the road for a pair of contests against West Coast Conference opponents in Northern California. The Matadors will meet the Saint Mary's Gaels (Sept. 18, 4 p.m.) and the Santa Clara Broncos (Sept. 20, 1 p.m.) in non-conference action.Â
A Closer Look at New MexicoÂ
On Friday, Sept. 11, the Matadors will face the New Mexico Lobos in a 7 p.m. match at Matador Soccer Field. After posting a victory over UC Santa Barbara and a draw with San Diego at their home tournament, the Lobos are receiving votes in the NSCAA coaches poll and are ranked No. 21 in the TopDrawerSoccer poll.Â
Chris Wehan had a strong weekend at the home tournament against the Gauchos and Toreros, earning multiple National Player of the Week honors from various publications. He has scored all four New Mexico goals this season, all of which came in that home tournament. He also leads the Lobos with 18 shots and has placed six shots on goal this season.Â
Three Lobos have assists on the year and the team has conceded only four goals on the season despite playing nationally ranked foes in UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. Jason Beaulieu has played all 290 minutes in net for New Mexico, posting a 1.24 goals-against-average and .778 save percentage with 14 stops in net.Â
The Lobos lead the all-time series with the Matadors 10-4-1, including a 1-0 victory at CSUN in the 2014 season. The Matadors did score a 3-2 victory in Albuquerque in 2013, but their last home win in the series came back in 1995 when CSUN prevailed 3-0.Â
A Closer Look at CSU BakersfieldÂ
The Matadors renew acquaintances with their rivals from Kern County on Sunday, Sept. 13 with a 6 p.m. match at Matador Soccer Field. The CSU Roadrunners are 1-1-1 on the young season, having played all their matches on the road. Last weekend, CSUB posted an overtime victory at UC Davis (2-1) before settling for a 1-1 draw at Sacramento State.Â
Brian Charles and Christian Duarte each have a goal on the year for CSUB. Charles has taken four shots and owns a game-winning goal while Duarte also has four shots with two on frame. Three Roadrunners have posted an assist on the year and Julian Zamora leads the squad with eight shots on the year.Â
On defense, Nicolas Clever has played over 307 minutes in net this year, sporting a 1.75 GAA and .684 save percentage with 13 stops in net. CSUB has allowed six goals through three games and committed 30 fouls.Â
CSUN leads the all-time series with CSUB 2-0-1. Last year, CSUN took a 2-1 decision in overtime at Matador Soccer Field on a penalty kick. The teams posted a 2-2 draw in Bakersfield in the 2011 campaign.
Redshirt sophomore Steven Manios returned to the pitch with a flourish, recording a point and an assist in the season opener.
- Scored game-tying goal and added assist in Matadors' win over Loyola-Chicago (8/30)
- Scored a goal at Creighton in the first 90 seconds of the match
- Missed all of 2014 season with injury but posted four assists with 15 shots during the 2013 season
Senior midfielder David Turcios is the most seasoned offensive player returning for the Matadors in 2015.
- Recorded five assists and five points in 2014 and tied for Big West lead in assists.
- Has played in every match in his first three seasons with the Matadors
- Enters season with 18 career assists, needing three to tie for 10th in school history
- Scored two goals and added seven assists in 2013
Senior defender Trevor Morley anchors an experienced CSUN defense this season.
- Has started 65 matches over his three-plus seasons in a Matador kit
- Named one of 30 Candidates for Senior CLASS Award
- Is responsible for helping CSUN win 38 matches and earn 21 shutouts since 2012
- Has three assists and three points in his career; recorded assist on Manios' goal vs. Loyola-Chicago
- Named to First Team All-Big West Conference (2013 & 2014) and Third Team NSCAA All-Far West Region in 2013
Senior goalkeeper Adam Hobbs stands as the last line of defense for an experienced-laden CSUN defense.
- Posted three saves and recorded first career assist in Matadors' win over Loyola-Chicago in 2015 season opener
- Finished 2014 at 7-7-3 with a 0.83 goals-against-average, 65 saves, an .812 save percentage and six shutouts
- Finished 14-7-1 with a 1.05 GAA, 69 saves, a .750 save percentage and three shutouts in 2013
- Ranked fifth in school history in wins (22) and games in goal (42)
- Tied for sixth in school history with nine career shutouts and ranks ninth with 144 career saves
Junior defender Patrick Hickman is another stout defender returning along the Matador backline.
- Scored his first two career goals while appearing in 19 games as a sophomore in 2014
- Recorded first career goal in a loss at UCSB and Tallied game-winning goal in victory over UC Irvine
- Earned Honorable Mention All-Big West Honors in 2014
- Has appeared in 44 games and made 39 starts with 10 shots and one yellow card in two seasons
Junior defender Gabe Robinson will play a prominent role along the CSUN defensive backline.
- One goal, three assists and five points with two yellow cards in 18 games in 12 starts in 2014
- Had a three-point day in CSUN's 2-0 win over #18 UAB (9/5), earning his first career points
- Has appeared in 34 games with three shots and two yellow cards in two seasons
Sophomore Dean Wright scored his first career goal to lift the Matadors over Loyola-Chicago in 2015 opener.
- Cleaned up chaotic scene in front of LUC net with game-winning goal in the 73 minute of action
- Transferred to CSUN after starting career at Cal State Fullerton; overcame two knee surgeries to play in 2015
- Leads the Matadors with three shots on goal in 2015
CSUN Produces Professional Talent
CSUN has produced multiple Major League Soccer draft picks and professional players under head coach Terry Davila
- In 2015, Sagi Lev-Ari (Columbus Crew) and Edwin Rivas (Toronto FC) were selected in MLS SuperdraftÂ
- Rivas is currently playing for Toronto FC II that competes in the USL
- Sean Franklin was third overall pick in 2008, MLS Rookie of the Year and plays for DC United
- Rafael Garcia was a supplemental draft pick in 2011 of LA Galaxy and has won two MLS Championships
- Joe Franco drafted by Chivas USA before moving onto LA Galaxy II currently
- The Matadors have had a total of 13 student-athletes drafted in the MLS since the 1996 season; 12 under Davila
The Defense Never Rests
The CSUN defense returns several prominent players and has been one of the top units in the Big West Conference over the past four seasons.
- The Matadors have maintained a cumulative goals-against-average of 1.01 since the 2011 season.Â
- CSUN has allowed just 94 goals in over 8,090 minutes of soccer since 2011 with 292 saves
- The 94 goals allowed are the second-fewest in the Big West Conference; UCD has allowed 93 while Sac State has allowed league-high 135
- CSUN has allowed the second-fewest goals three times since 2011 and has finished now worse than fourth in GAA in that span
- That defense has helped lead CSUN to 20 road victories since the 2010 season, tying for the second-most in the Big West
Fútbol en Español
CSUN will produce audio broadcasts for select home matches in Spanish during the 2015 season.
- Eduard Cauich, the sports editor at Hoy, will be providing the play-by-play action
- Jose Avalos, a reporter for Estrella TV, will serve as the analyst for the actionÂ
- The first match to be broadcast will be a Sept. 11 contest with New Mexico and the Sept. 13 match with CSU Bakersfield will also be streamed on GoMatadors.com
Bring the Noise
Have a drum, cowbell, or other noisemaker lying around at home? Now is the time to bring it out and explore the space of Matador Soccer Field! In 2011, the Big West Conference office announced that all noisemakers, with the exceptions of airhorns and whistles, will be allowed at all conference matches and all home venues. Please note that noisemakers have been approved for use at men's and women's soccer matches only and will be confiscated in The Matadome or at any other CSUN Athletics venue.Â
