California State University at Northridge
Cal Poly
CSUN Travels to Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara in Big West Play
10/5/2016 9:15:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Matadors Face Mustangs, Gauchos in Pivotal League Contests
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NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN Matadors (5-4-1, 2-0-0 Big West) travel to California's central coast for a pair of Big West Conference matches this weekend. On Thursday, Oct. 6, the Matadors will square off with the Cal Poly Mustangs at 7 p.m. at Mustang Stadium. Two days later, CSUN tangles with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at 7 p.m. at Harder Stadium as it concludes play against the Big West North Division. Both matches will feature live video on BigWest.TV as well as live stats. Links for all multimedia can be found at GoMatadors.com and fans are also encouraged to check with the CSUN Athletic Department's official Twitter accounts (@CSUNMensSoccer, @GoMatadors) for updates throughout the week.
Last week, CSUN opened Big West Conference play with a pair of victories at Matador Soccer Field. Against UC Davis, Juan Fernando Samayoa scored a pair of penalty kicks in the second half to help lift the Matadors to a 2-1 victory over the Aggies. Two days later, Patrick Hickman headed home a throw-in from Gabe Robinson in the 82nd minute to propel the Matadors to a 1-0 victory over Sacramento State. The victory over the Hornets was CSUN's first at home since 2008 and Kevin Marquez made four saves to post his first career shutout.
This week, the Matadors face a pair of tough road tests at the Cal Poly Mustangs and UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. The Mustangs carry a 12-match unbeaten streak at home into Thursday's contest. Justin Dhillon has a team-high five goals for the Mustangs, who are led by former US Men's National Team head coach Steve Sampson.Â
Two days later, UCSB hosts CSUN in both squads' final Big West inter-division contest. Kevin Feucht and Nick DePuy have combined for 13 goals on the season and the Gauchos have played one of the nation's toughest schedules. UC Santa Barbara faces UC Irvine on Oct. 6 before hosting the Matadors Saturday night.Â
A Closer Look at Cal Poly
The Cal Poly Mustangs host CSUN on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at Mustang Stadium in San Luis Obispo, CA. The Mustangs are led by second-year head coach Steve Sampson, a former head coach of the US Men's National Team. The Mustangs carry a 2-6-1 overall record and a 0-2 mark in Big West play after losses at Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside last week.
Cal Poly's Justin Dhilon has five goals and 11 points on the season to lead the squad. He scored a hat trick in the Mustangs' home opener against Fresno Pacific and Cal Poly is currently 2-0-1 at Mustang Stadium with a victory over UCLA and a draw with San Diego State. Two other Mustangs have hit the back of the net and Nick Carroll leads the squad with two assists. Cal Poly is averaging 10.1 shots and three corner kicks per contest.
On defense, Eric Kam has played the majority of minutes in goal for the Mustangs and owns a 1.11 goals-against average with 21 saves and a .724 save percentage in 650 minutes of action. Cal Poly has conceded 12 goals on the season and opponents are averaging 10.9 shots and just over three corner kicks per contest.
CSUN leads the all-time series, one that dates back to 1979, with Cal Poly 29-17-9. The Matadors own a record of 11-12-5 in San Luis Obispo and their last win on the road in the series came in a 1-0 victory in 2012. Cal Poly has won the last two match-ups, including a 1-0 victory in Northridge last season.Â
A Closer Look at UC Santa Barbara
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos enter the week with a 5-5-1 overall record and will host UC Irvine on Thursday, Oct. 6 before facing the Matadors. The Gauchos are 1-0-1 in Big West action after posting a draw at UC Riverside and an overtime victory at Cal State Fullerton last weekend.
Kevin Feucht had the game-tying goal at UC Riverside and the game-winning goal at Cal State Fullerton. He leads the Big West Conference with eight goals and 18 points on the season. Nick DePuy is second on the Gauchos with five goals and 11 points and he has a team-high 35 shots on the season.
On defense, Titouan Le Roux has played all the minutes in goal for UCSB this season. He sports a 1.84 goals-against average, 45 saves and a .682 save percentage with two shutouts. Both UCSB and its opponents average around 14 shots per game and UCSB has received 29 yellow cards on the season.
Tim Vom Steeg is the head coach of UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos own a 21-16-5 record in the all-time series with the Matadors and have won the last two meetings. CSUN's last victory in the series came in 2013.
