Thursday, November 2
Northridge, Calif.
7:30 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
vs
UC Riverside
Photo by: Paul Trafecanty
CSUN to Host Big West Tournament, UC Riverside in Semifinal Match
11/1/2017 12:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
FULL PDF RELEASE
NORTHRIDGE, CA---CSUN Women's Soccer (8-4-7) will host the 2017 Big West Tournament beginning this Thursday as the No. 2 seeded Matadors face No. 3 seeded UC Riverside in a semifinal match at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN3. Prior to CSUN's match with the Highlanders, top seeded UC Irvine battles No. 4 seeded Cal State Fullerton at 5 p.m. The winners will advance to a Big West Championship match on Sunday at 1 p.m. with an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament on the line.Â
In addition to the ESPN3 broadcast, the CSUNÂ Sports Network presented by Dignity Health will provide Spanish audio broadcasts of each CSUNÂ match in the tournament with Jose Avalos and Eduard Cauich on the call.Â
The Matadors have advanced to the Big West Tournament for the seventh time over the last nine seasons and have finished second or better in the conference for the fourth time under head coach Keith West. CSUN finished tied with UC Riverside at 15 points for second place in the conference, and just one point behind Big West Champion UC Irvine.Â
On Wednesday, six Matadors received All-Big West Conference honors including senior Jovani McCaskill who was named Co-Goalkeeper of the Year. Earning her second-straight Goalkeeper of the Year award, McCaskill also received a spot on the First Team along with junior defender Lindsay Kutscher. On the Second Team, senior Cynthia Sanchez earned her fourth all-conference nod of her career while junior Marissa Favela received her first. Junior defender Christina Nixon earned an Honorable Mention from the conference and newcomer Amy Aquino received a spot on the All-Freshman Team.Â
In its regular season finale, CSUN was just minutes away from winning a second-straight Big West regular season title last Thursday, but a late Long Beach State goal led to a 2-2 draw on Senior Day. With the Matadors ahead 2-1 in the 89th minute, a handball call in the box gave the 49ers an opportunity to tie the match via a penalty kick. Favela scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season in the match while Kutscher netted her first of the season off a pass from fellow defender Amanda Martin.Â
After a conference-opening loss to Cal State Fullerton, the Matadors went unbeaten over their final seven conference matches to close the regular season. At Matador Soccer Field, CSUNÂ extended its unbeaten streak against Big West foes to nine-straight matches, dating back to 2015.Â
This year's tournament marks the first time the Matadors will host the entire Big West Tournament in program history. The last women's Big West Tournament match held at CSUNÂ took place in 2009 as the Matadors fell to UC Santa Barbara (2-1) in the semifinals.Â
The Matadors are 10-7 all time against UC Riverside and have won the last two matches by a 1-0 score. Earlier this season, CSUNÂ defeated the Highlanders in Riverside on Oct. 12 behind a goal from Bret Guarino in the 84th minute. CSUNÂ has also won six of eight all-time meetings at Matador Soccer Field including the last four in a row. The teams have never faced off in the Big West Tournament.Â
A Closer Look at UC Riverside
UC Riverside finished 8-10-2 in the regular season including 5-3 in Big West play to finish tied with the Matadors in the conference standings. The Highlanders won their last two matches, outscoring their opponents 7-0. Senior Ashley Webb has led the team with four goals and 10 points while junior Quinley Quezada scored three times and accumulated nine points. A total of 13 Highlanders have hit the net this season including seven who have scored multiple times. Reigning Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Week, senior Alanna Guzman has spent the most time in net (1159 minutes) and posted 44 saves along with three shutouts on the year.Â
Â
NORTHRIDGE, CA---CSUN Women's Soccer (8-4-7) will host the 2017 Big West Tournament beginning this Thursday as the No. 2 seeded Matadors face No. 3 seeded UC Riverside in a semifinal match at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN3. Prior to CSUN's match with the Highlanders, top seeded UC Irvine battles No. 4 seeded Cal State Fullerton at 5 p.m. The winners will advance to a Big West Championship match on Sunday at 1 p.m. with an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament on the line.Â
In addition to the ESPN3 broadcast, the CSUNÂ Sports Network presented by Dignity Health will provide Spanish audio broadcasts of each CSUNÂ match in the tournament with Jose Avalos and Eduard Cauich on the call.Â
The Matadors have advanced to the Big West Tournament for the seventh time over the last nine seasons and have finished second or better in the conference for the fourth time under head coach Keith West. CSUN finished tied with UC Riverside at 15 points for second place in the conference, and just one point behind Big West Champion UC Irvine.Â
On Wednesday, six Matadors received All-Big West Conference honors including senior Jovani McCaskill who was named Co-Goalkeeper of the Year. Earning her second-straight Goalkeeper of the Year award, McCaskill also received a spot on the First Team along with junior defender Lindsay Kutscher. On the Second Team, senior Cynthia Sanchez earned her fourth all-conference nod of her career while junior Marissa Favela received her first. Junior defender Christina Nixon earned an Honorable Mention from the conference and newcomer Amy Aquino received a spot on the All-Freshman Team.Â
In its regular season finale, CSUN was just minutes away from winning a second-straight Big West regular season title last Thursday, but a late Long Beach State goal led to a 2-2 draw on Senior Day. With the Matadors ahead 2-1 in the 89th minute, a handball call in the box gave the 49ers an opportunity to tie the match via a penalty kick. Favela scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season in the match while Kutscher netted her first of the season off a pass from fellow defender Amanda Martin.Â
After a conference-opening loss to Cal State Fullerton, the Matadors went unbeaten over their final seven conference matches to close the regular season. At Matador Soccer Field, CSUNÂ extended its unbeaten streak against Big West foes to nine-straight matches, dating back to 2015.Â
This year's tournament marks the first time the Matadors will host the entire Big West Tournament in program history. The last women's Big West Tournament match held at CSUNÂ took place in 2009 as the Matadors fell to UC Santa Barbara (2-1) in the semifinals.Â
The Matadors are 10-7 all time against UC Riverside and have won the last two matches by a 1-0 score. Earlier this season, CSUNÂ defeated the Highlanders in Riverside on Oct. 12 behind a goal from Bret Guarino in the 84th minute. CSUNÂ has also won six of eight all-time meetings at Matador Soccer Field including the last four in a row. The teams have never faced off in the Big West Tournament.Â
A Closer Look at UC Riverside
UC Riverside finished 8-10-2 in the regular season including 5-3 in Big West play to finish tied with the Matadors in the conference standings. The Highlanders won their last two matches, outscoring their opponents 7-0. Senior Ashley Webb has led the team with four goals and 10 points while junior Quinley Quezada scored three times and accumulated nine points. A total of 13 Highlanders have hit the net this season including seven who have scored multiple times. Reigning Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Week, senior Alanna Guzman has spent the most time in net (1159 minutes) and posted 44 saves along with three shutouts on the year.Â
Â
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerA Conversation With Keith West v2
Tuesday, May 19
A Conversation With Keith West
Tuesday, May 19
Interview With Lindsay Kutscher
Monday, August 05
Women's Soccer vs. UNLV
Thursday, August 30