Matadors Earn Fifth-Straight Shutout in 0-0 Draw with #21 Pepperdine

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

CSUN Women's Soccer (3-1-4) earned an 0-0 draw against No. 21 Pepperdine (4-2-1) on Sunday evening at Matador Soccer Field. The Matadors played 110 minutes of scoreless action for the third-straight contest and for the second time in a three days. Junior goalkeeper Jovani McCaskill collected six saves to post her fifth clean sheet of the season. Earning their fifth-straight shutout, the Matadors matched the 2001 and 2012 teams for the most consecutive shutouts in team history.

"Defensively we were outstanding," said head coach Keith West. "It was a gutsy performance. We had maybe one good look, they had one good look so it was a fair result. We played 110 minutes on Friday. [Pepperdine] didn't play on Friday. When a team doesn't play on Friday and an other team plays on Friday, legs can be tired. Giving up two goals in eight games is pretty darn good. I'm just proud of the team. They gave everything they had tonight. That's all you could ask for."

Coming in with four-straight shutouts, the Matadors played the nationally ranked Waves in a back-and-forth contest. Pepperdine outshot the Matadors in the first half, 4-1, but CSUN rallied back to post a 6-4 advantage in shots over the final 45 minutes of regulation.

Finishing with a game-high four shots, Camille Watson recorded the match's first attempt off a give-and-go with Bethany Fitzsimmons in the 11th minute. Watson fired from near the right side of the box but goalkeeper Hannah Seabert made a save to prevent the shot from hitting the side netting.

McCaskill made two saves in the opening period including a diving save to her left off a shot from Kirsten Rodriguez in the 45th minute. She continued her strong play in net in the second half, stopping three shots to keep the Waves at bay.

In a close play, Pepperdine took a corner kick in the 77th minute, leading to an outstanding play from McCaskill. Off the set piece, Danielle Thomas placed a header near the top of the goal, forcing McCaskill to leap and knock the ball just outside of the net.

Seeking the go-ahead score, the Matadors pressed on offense throughout the second period. Jennifer Anderson placed a shot on goal off a free kick in the 76th minute while Watson took two shots in the half.

After Kourtney Kutscher took a shot from midfield that was snagged by Seabert, the Matadors entered their third-straight overtime.

Fending off four shot attempts from the Waves in the first overtime, Watson made a play at the net in the 98th minute. With the ball at the top of the box, Watson fired a low shot to the goal, forcing Seabert to make a basket catch on the ground.

Pepperdine posted two shots in the final overtime including a shot from Rodriguez from about 15 yards out that went wide left. Taylor Hobson earned a shot on goal in the final 10 minutes with an attempt from near the top of the box that Seabert saved cleanly.

Holding Pepperdine scoreless over 110 minutes, the Matadors extended their string of shutout soccer to 541:15. The last goal given by CSUN came in a contest against North Dakota State on Aug. 26. On the season, the Matadors have allowed only two goals.

On defense, Nicole Thompson, Lindsay Kutscher and Christina Nixon played the full 110 minutes for the Matadors. Amanda Martin came in off the bench and logged 84 minutes on the backline.

With 102 career saves, McCaskill moved into eighth-place on the Matadors' all-time career saves list with her six on Sunday.

CSUN hits the road to compete in the Marquette Invitational in Milwaukee, WI, beginning on Friday, Sept. 16. The Matadors face Loyola-Chicago at 2:30 p.m. (PT) in the opener of the invitational and will square off with Marquette on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 11:30 a.m. (PT).

Matadors Earn Fifth-Straight Shutout in 0-0 Draw with #21 Pepperdine

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Team Stats

Camille Watson

Kourtney Kutscher

Taylor Hobson

Jennifer Anderson

Players Mentioned

Jennifer Anderson

Bethany Fitzsimmons

Taylor Hobson

Kourtney Kutscher

Lindsay Kutscher

Amanda Martin

Jovani McCaskill

Christina Nixon

Nicole Thompson

Camille Watson