Matadors Drop Big West Opener at Cal State Fullerton

FULLERTON, CA---

CSUN Women's Soccer (4-4-4, 0-1-0) dropped a 3-0 decision to Cal State Fullerton (8-2-2, 1-0-0) in both teams' Big West Conference opener on Sunday evening at Titan Stadium.

The Titans led in every offensive category as Fullerton outshot the Matadors 13-2 in the match and held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks. Despite the final numbers, the Matadors trailed by one with under 20 minutes to play. With the game up for grabs, the Titans scored back-to-back goals, just two minutes apart, to pull away in the second half.

The teams jockeyed for position in the early minutes of the first half as a pair of Matadors were whistled for yellow cards in the opening four minutes while Fullerton committed three fouls and received one yellow card caution.

Jovani McCaskill made the first save of the match on an attempt from Sarah Fajnor on the break. McCaskill made a clean basket catch to keep the match scoreless.

Moments later, the Titans went back on offense and came away with the game's first strike. In the 20th minute, Samantha Koemans played the ball near the left corner and sent a cross towards the far post. After the Matador defense was unable to break up the play, Tala Haddad found room and finished the play with a light touch just inside the right post to put her team on top.

Koemans looked to double the Titan lead in the 33rd minute as she attempted a shot from near the top of the box. McCaskill reacted quickly and corraled the laser to keep it a one-goal match.

Held without a shot in the first half, the Matadors came out as the aggressor in the second half. Not credited with a shot, the Matadors earned perhaps their best look at the net all night early on in the period. Following a Fullerton foul, Marissa Favela deposited a low cross that made its way deep into the box. The ball would stay near the ground for several seconds as multiple players attempted to gain possession. Cynthia Sanchez finally gained control and sent the ball slowly to the left just wide of the goal.

Favela forced goalkeeper Morgan Bertsch to make her only save of the match in the 65th minute off a long kick from above the box. The shot appeared it might clear Bertsch but instead the Fullerton 'keeper made a two-handed stop.

Still ahead by a goal in the 71st minute, Fullerton would take advantage of a Matador miscue to double its lead. Jazzmin Mancilla played the ball from the outside the box and delivered a looping long ball that McCaskill looked to snare. However, McCaskill misplayed the cross leading to the ball rolling backwards. Christina Nixon attempted to clear out the play at the last second but was unable to stop the ball from hitting the Matadors' net. On the unsual play, Mancilla was credited with the goal.

Just over two minutes later, the Titans put the game out of reach with their third goal of the contest. After McCaskill stopped a shot attempt from Koemans, the Titans' Haley Brown received a short pass from Atlanta Primus and headed in a shot at the left post.

Sanchez took the Matadors' final shot of the match in the 81st minute but her attempt from the right wing went just wide.

The group of Amber Edemann, Kirsten Von Meter, Amanda Martin, Lindsay Kutscher and Nixon played the full 90 minutes for CSUN. Jennifer Anderson made her first appearance since Aug. 24 and played eight minutes off the bench.

The Matadors return home to face UC Santa Barbara next Thursday (Oct. 5) at 4 p.m. The match will be streamed live on the CSUN Sports Network via Big West.TV.

Matadors Drop Big West Opener at Cal State Fullerton

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Team Stats

Cynthia Sanchez

Marissa Favela

Players Mentioned

Jennifer Anderson

Amber Edemann

Marissa Favela

Lindsay Kutscher

Amanda Martin

Jovani McCaskill

Christina Nixon

Cynthia Sanchez

Kirsten Von Meter