CSUN Returns Home To Face UCSB & Cal Poly

Men's Soccer Notebook

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN men's soccer team returns home for the first time since Sept. 14 to conclude play against the Big West's North Division this week. Action begins Thursday night when UC Santa Barbara heads to Northridge for a 7 p.m. start.

Thursday's match is part of a doubleheader with the CSUN women's soccer team and is also a part of the CSUN Soccer Fan Fair. The first 300 through the doors will receive a Matador T-Shirt.

UC Santa Barbara won its fourth in a row last Saturday when the Gauchos defeated UC Riverside 3-1. UCSB is 4-4-2 and is 2-0 in Big West play. Rodney Michael was named Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Week Oct. 2. He scored twice and two assists last week.

Michael is second in the Big West in shots (25). He is tied for third in the conference with two others (11) in points, tied for third (with two others, 3) in assists), and is tied for fifth with three others in goals (4).

Nabi Kibunguchy was named Big West Defensive Player of the Week on Monday to complete the Gauchos' sweep of the weekly honors. He led a UCSB defense that allowed eight shots (four on goal) last week.

UC Santa Barbara goalie Alan Carrillo paces the conference this week in goals against average (1.01) and shutouts (4). His 28 saves are the seventh best in the league. This is the 44th meeting between the two clubs with UC Santa Barbara leading the all-time series 22-16-5. UCSB defeated the Matadors 2-1 last season in Santa Barbara.

Play concludes Saturday when Cal Poly takes to the Matador Soccer Field pitch. The start again will be 7 p.m. The first 300 fans through the turnstiles will receive a set of glow sticks for National LED Day.

Cal Poly dropped to 5-5, 1-1 in Big West play after losing 1-0 to Cal State Fullerton last Saturday night. The Mustangs feature a balanced scoring attack with four players each scoring two goals and recording an assist for five points. Sean Goode is one of those four and leads the squad in shots with 14.

Simon Boehme has played every minute in goal this season for Cal Poly. He leads the Big West in saves with 47. His 1.09 goals against average is the second best in the conference. This is the 58th meeting between the two clubs with CSUN leading the all-time series 29-17-10. The teams played to a 1-1 tie last season in San Luis Obispo.

Both CSUN matches this week will be streamed on the CSUN Sports Network with both matches featuring a Spanish language simulcast. Eduard Cauich and Jose Avalos will be on the call.

CSUN went 0-1-1 during the opening week of Big West play a week ago. The Matadors (5-5-1) dropped a 1-0 decision to Sacramento State last Thursday. Nicholas Grinde's goal with 15 seconds remaining in regulation helped CSUN to a 1-1 tie at UC Davis last Saturday.

~www.GoRunners.com~

CSUN Returns Home To Face UCSB & Cal Poly

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Players Mentioned

Nicholas Grinde