CSUN Ties Program Shutout Record, Downs Cal Poly, 1-0

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NORTHRIDGE, CA---

CSUN Women's Soccer (7-3-5, 2-1-1 BWC) earned its second-straight conference road victory, defeating Cal Poly (6-8-1, 1-3-0 BWC), 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at Alex G. Spanos Stadium. Sophomore defender Lindsay Kutscher netted her third goal of the season in the 25th minute off a rebound attempt near the goal line. With the shutout, the Matadors tied a program record with their 11th of the season. Goalkeeper Jovani McCaskill played strong in net, saving seven to post her 10th individual clean sheet of the campaign.

Three days after picking up a thrilling 1-0 overtime win at Long Beach State, the Matadors once again pulled out another close decision on the road.

Outshooting Cal Poly, 20-11, in the match, the Matadors pressured the Mustang defense from the outset. Camille Watson took three shots in the early going including putting a shot on frame in the sixth minute. Shortly after Cynthia Sanchez fired a shot that was saved by goalkeeper Sophia Brown, the Matadors would break through at the 24:38 mark of the match.

Off a corner kick, Sanchez deposited a bomb from the above the box that banged off the crossbar. Leaping to try to get a hand on the shot, Brown went to the ground and left the goal open for a second CSUN attempt. Kutscher rebounded the loose ball just a few feet from the goal line and sent in a returning shot that struck the net.

Playing with the lead, the Matadors withstood eight Cal Poly shots in the first 45 minutes and made five total saves to maintain the 1-0 advantage. McCaskill made four saves in the first period while CSUN made a team save in the 42nd minute off a header from Kendra Bonsall. The defense continued its stingy play in the second period, holding the Mustangs to three shots after intermission.

Keeping the ball on Cal Poly's side of the field, the Matadors earned the first seven shots of the second half until Cal Poly registered its first shot in the 65th minute.

In two close calls, McCaskll made a pair of saves less than two minutes apart to keep the score 1-0. Facing a long shot from Megan Demijohn, McCaskill punched and deflected the ball over the cross bar. Just moments later, off a corner kick, Nicole Wheeler headed a shot from inside the box but again McCaskill put herself in position to knock the ball out of play.

McCaskill made one more save in the contest off an attempt from Chelsea Barry as CSUN held Cal Poly without a shot over the final 14:17.

Down the stretch, Brown kept the Matadors off the scoreboard by saving shots from Breanna McCallum, Marissa Favela and Bethany Fitzsimmons late in regulation.

With the victory, the Matadors have earned a full six points on the road against central coast teams UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly for just the second time in school history. CSUN also swept the two opponents on the road during the 2014 season.

The Matadors' 11th shutout of the season ties the 2001 and 2012 teams for the most in a season in school history. The 2016 team also reached the shutout record in just 15 matches, which are two fewer than the 2001 team needed (17) and six fewer than the 2012 (21) needed to accomplish the feat.

Earning her 10th clean sheet of the season, McCaskill is a shutout away from tying Cynthia Jacobo (2012) and Jenny Willemse (2001) for the most in a season.

Scoring her third of the season, Kutscher has set a new career-high after scoring two as a freshman in 2015. Sanchez, who received credit for an assist on the Kutscher goal, earned her fifth career helper and her 37th career point on the play.

CSUN returns home for a Thursday evening match against UC Riverside with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.

CSUN Ties Program Shutout Record, Downs Cal Poly, 1-0

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Team Stats

Lindsay Kutscher

Cynthia Sanchez

Camille Watson

Marissa Favela

Players Mentioned

Marissa Favela

Bethany Fitzsimmons

Lindsay Kutscher

Breanna McCallum

Jovani McCaskill

Cynthia Sanchez

Camille Watson