CSUN Defeats Fullerton 1-0 to Clinch Berth in Big West Tournament

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

CSUN Women's Soccer (10-4-5, 5-1-1 BWC) punched its ticket to the Big West Conference Tournament with a 1-0 victory over Cal State Fullerton (7-10-0, 4-3-0 BWC) on Friday evening at Matador Soccer Field. Lindsay Kutscher netted her team-leading fourth goal of the season off a helper from Kourtney Kutscher in the 32nd minute. Goalkeeper Jovani McCaskill posted six saves in net and she recorded her 13th shutout of the season, setting a new Big West Conference record.

With the win, the Matadors have earned at least a No. 2 seed in the Big West Tournament, which begins on Nov. 3 in Long Beach, CA. UC Irvine defeated Hawai'i, 2-1, to remain tied with CSUN for the top spot in the standings with 16 points. CSUN can win the Big West Conference Regular Season Championship with a win over Hawai'i on Sunday. Both Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton are tied for third place with 12 points apiece. Also alive for the tournament, UC Davis is fifth in the standings at 10 points heading into the final day of the regular season.

In a tight match, Cal State Fullerton took more shots than CSUN, holding a 12-10 advantage on the night while the Titans edged the Matadors, 6-5, in shots on goal. Fullerton also earned four corner kicks to the Matadors three in the game. Despite trailing in the three categories, the Matadors would find a way to pick up the victory on a timely first half goal.

CSUN posted the first two shots on frame in the match as both Kourtney Kutscher and Camille Watson forced Jennifer Stuart to make stops in the opening 10 minutes. McCaskill made her first of six saves in the 19th minute off a header from Nano Oronoz to keep the Titans at bay.

The score remained 0-0 through the first third of the match until a Fullerton foul led to a CSUN scoring chance. Taking the free kick from about 30 yards out near the left sideline, Kourtney Kutscher delivered a long kick that traveled to left center of the box. Corralling the pass, Lindsay Kutscher kicked a shot that went inside the left near post to put CSUN in front.

The Matadors played strong defensively throughout the remainder of the first half, limiting the Titans to only one shot over the final 26:32 of the period.

After intermission, the Titans pressed offensively in an attempt to hit the equalizer. Facing the pressure, McCaskill would be up for the challenge as she stopped three shots in the opening 8:16 of the half. In the 63rd minute, McCaskill made another save going to her left off a shot from Maribell Morales from the top of the box.

The Matadors continued to thwart off potential Titan scoring chances over the remainder of the match. CSUN sent back three Fullerton corner kick opportunities in the second period and the defense blocked two shots from Atlanta Primus late in the half to seal the 1-0 win.

Both Watson and Kourtney Kutscher led CSUN with four shots in the contest while Cynthia Sanchez and Lindsay Kutscher had a shot apiece.

Teaming up on the game-winning goal, the sister duo of Kourtney and Lindsay Kutscher have now assisted each other on three goals this season. Kourtney provided a helper for Lindsay on a score against South Dakota on Aug. 26 and Lindsay returned the favor with an assist to her older sister at Marquette on Sept. 18.

Already the school's all-time leader in shutouts in a season, McCaskill has now become the all-time Big West leader in clean sheets in a single campaign with her 13th of the season on Friday. McCaskill also moved into a third-place tie with April Cline (2005-06) on the CSUN's wins list with her 18th of her career and she climbed into sixth-place with 145 saves on the career save list.

Competing in her 78th career match, Taylor Hobson moved into a fifth-place tie for the most games played in CSUN history. Hobson was one of five Matadors on the night to play a full 90 minutes on the field.

CSUN wraps up the regular season on Sunday afternoon for Senior Day against Hawai'i at 2 p.m. The Matadors will honor their nine seniors prior to kickoff for their accomplishments to the program throughout their respective careers.

CSUN Defeats Fullerton 1-0 to Clinch Berth in Big West Tournament

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Team Stats

Lindsay Kutscher

Kourtney Kutscher

Camille Watson

Cynthia Sanchez

Players Mentioned

Taylor Hobson

Kourtney Kutscher

Lindsay Kutscher

Jovani McCaskill

Cynthia Sanchez

Camille Watson