Matadors Outlast Cal Poly, 3-2

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

CSUN Women's Soccer (5-4-5, 1-1-1 BWC) scored two second half goals including a game winner from Sylvia Trinh in the 73rd minute to defeat Cal Poly (5-9-1, 0-4 BWC) 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at Matador Soccer Field. Along with Trinh, Avery DeWitt netted her first goal of the season while Cynthia Sanchez notched her 20th career goal to move into sole possession of second place on the Matadors' all-time career scoring list. In a match with two ties, the Matadors registered a season-high three goals to post their first conference win of the season.

Sanchez's goal moved her past Erin Broadwell (1998-01) on the Matadors' career scoring list and within two of all-time leader Farryn Townley (2006-10). With 46 career points, Sanchez has also moved ahead of Kristy Krohn (2004-07) for second place on CSUN's point list. Sanchez needs two more points to tie Townley who holds the point record with 48.

"[We] were committed today, and [we] were committed on Thursday [against UC Santa Barbara]," said head coach Keith West. "I felt we played with a such a belief today that we're going to get a win and make plays. If we play like that, then we're going to be alright. Anybody that got on the field today for us did the job to the best of their ability and that's all you can ask for."

The Matadors were outshot 11-10 in the match but put eight of their attempts on goal compared to four for the Mustangs. The teams finished even in corner kicks, 4-4. For CSUN, Amanda Martin and Marissa Favela were issued yellow cards while Cal Poly's Megan Abutin received a caution.

In the first half, Jovani McCaskill made two saves to help keep the Mustangs scoreless through the first third of the contest. Following an offside call on each side, a Cal Poly foul in the 37th minute gave DeWitt an opportunity to take a free kick. With ball above the box at about 25 yards out, DeWitt deposited a laser into the left corner of the netting to put the Matadors in front.

However, the lead would be short lived as the Cal Poly answered right back just eight minutes later. With seconds left before halftime, Sydney Knauer found a streaking Abutin on a breakaway opportunity. Abutin found room at center box and sent a shot inside the right post to even the match heading into intermission.

In the early minutes of the second half, Destinney Duron and Lindsay Kutscher each put shots on goal but goalkeeper Sophia Brown made a pair of clean saves to keep it a 1-1 game. Moments later, at the 62:07 mark, the tandem of Christina Nixon and Sanchez teamed up to give CSUN the lead right back. Nixon took the ball down the right side of the box and fed a moving Sanchez in front of the goal. Sanchez finished at the right post for her third goal of the season.

Sanchez's goal would be the first of three goals over a 10:08 span as Cal Poly returned the favor in the 70th minute. After a CSUN foul, Chelsea Barry sent a free kick from nearly 30 yards out into a scrum inside the box. With McCaskill coming out to attempt a punch out, Danielle Anderson headed in the pass into an empty net.

Less than three minutes later, the Matadors countered with a goal of their own. Off a throw-in, Duron tossed in the ball into the box. The ball hit off a defender and Kutscher kicked the ball near the net. Brown came out to try to clear out the ball but instead Trinh finished the ball at the left post to put CSUN back on top.

The Matadors held on down the stretch including withstanding a last minute corner kick and shot from Georgina Stiegeler to secure the victory.

Seven Matadors finished with shots led by the trio of Sanchez, Trinh and DeWitt who each had two. The backline consisting of Nixon, Kutscher and Martin played the full 90 minutes.

CSUN embarks on a two-match road trip starting with a Thursday match at UC Riverside at 7 p.m. The Matadors will then travel to Hawai'i to meet the Rainbow Wahine on Sunday evening at 4 p.m. (PT).

Matadors Outlast Cal Poly, 3-2

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Team Stats

Cynthia Sanchez

Sylvia Trinh

Avery DeWitt

Lindsay Kutscher

Players Mentioned

Avery DeWitt

Destinney Duron

Marissa Favela

Lindsay Kutscher

Amanda Martin

Jovani McCaskill

Christina Nixon

Cynthia Sanchez

Sylvia Trinh