California State University at Northridge
UC Riverside
CSUN Continues Divisional Play vs. UC Riverside, UC Irvine
10/18/2016 12:18:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Matadors Face Division-Leading Highlanders, Host Anteaters
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN Matadors (5-6-3, 2-2-2 Big West) will look to secure a berth in the Big West Conference Tournament this week with a pair of matches against South Division rivals. On Wednesday, Oct. 19, the Matadors travel to face division-leading UC Riverside in a 7 p.m. match at Riverside Soccer Stadium. Three days later, CSUN returns to the San Fernando Valley to host the UC Irvine Anteaters in a 7 p.m. match at Matador Soccer Field. The match with the Highlanders will feature live stats while the contest with the Anteaters will feature live stats, live audio and live video via the CSUN Sports Network. Eduard Cauich and Jose Avalos will call all the action with multimedia links available at GoMatadors.com and fans are also encouraged to check with the CSUN athletic department's official Twitter handles (@CSUNMensSoccer, @GoMatadors) for updates throughout the weekend.
Last week, CSUN posted a 1-1 draw at home against Cal State Fullerton and then fell 4-3 at UC Irvine. Against the Titans, Bar Shem Tov scored the game-tying goal in the 76th minute to help a 10-man CSUN side earn an important point in the standings. Three days later, Shem Tov scored in the fifth minute, Juan Fernando Samayoa converted a penalty kick and Dre Deas added the first goal of his CSUN career. However, the Anteaters answered every CSUN goal with one of their own and escaped with the narrow victory.
This week, the march towards the postseason continues with imporatnt contests against the Highlanders and Anteaters. UC Riverside leads the Big West South Division with 13 points, but had a four-match winning streak snapped in a 1-0 defeat at Cal State Fullerton on Oct. 15. The Anteaters and Matadors will tangle for the second time in a week when the meet up Saturday night in Northridge.Â
Next week, CSUN closes out the regular season with a match at Cal State Fullerton on Oct. 26 and a home contest with UC Riverside on Saturday, Oct. 29. The Matadors will honor their six seniors on the 2016 roster before the match.Â
A Closer Look at UC Riverside
The UC Riverside Highlanders host the CSUN Matadors on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Riverside Soccer Stadium for a 7 p.m. match in The Inland Empire. The Highlanders own a 9-5-1 overall record and a 4-1-1 mark in the Big West Conference, leading the Big West Conference South Division with 13 points. The Matadors have won the past two meetings with UCR and carry a 22-5-7 record in the all-time series with the Highlanders.Â
Romario Lomeli leads the squad with five goals, eight assists and 18 points. He has one game-winning goal and 20 shots while starting all 15 matches. Antonio Lokossou and Stephen Copley each have three goals on the year while Ricardo Ruiz is second on the team with four assists. Five other Highlanders have scored two goals and UCR averages 9.7 shots and 3.6 corner kicks per match.Â
On defense, Vincent Morales has played every minute in goal for the Highlanders. He carries a 1.21 goals-against average, 83 saves and an .814 save percentage and he leads the conference in both saves and save percentage. Opponents are averaging 16.5 shots and 6.3 corner kicks per game, but the Highlanders have posted a plus-five goal differential.Â
Tim Cupello has been a member of the UC Riverside coaching staff since 2010 and has been the head coach since the 2014 season. UCR will head to the San Fernando Valley on Saturday, Oct. 29 for the Matadors' Senior Night. Â
A Closer Look at UC Irvine
The UC Irvine Anteaters will face the CSUN men's soccer program for the second time in a week on Saturday, Oct. 22 in a 7 p.m. match at Matador Soccer Field. The Anteaters edged the Matadors 4-3 on Oct. 15 in Orange County as Bar Shem Tov, Juan Fernando Samayoa and Dre Deas scored for CSUN.Â
Luis Leon continues to lead the team with three goals and eight points on the season. Ivan Canales had two goals and an assist in the victory over CSUN and has seven points on the season. Giovanni Godoy, Thomas Janjigian and Jose Ortiz all have two goals on the season and the Anteaters average 12.6 shots and 5.1 corner kicks per game.Â
Elliot Farmer and Alex Waldron have split time in goal for UC Irvine and Farmer made four saves in the Anteaters' 4-3 win over CSUN. Farmer carries a 2.2 GAA, 39 saves and a .661 save percentage into the week. Waldron has a 1.68 GAA, 16 saves and an .615 save percentage. Â
At 4-11 overall and 2-4 in the Big West, the Anteaters are currently fourth in the South Division with six points. UC Irvine travels to Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday, Oct. 19 before facing the Matadors Saturday night.Â
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