Matadors Stay Unbeaten Behind Favela's Golden Goal

Sunday, August 27

Northridge, Calif.

10:00 a.m.

California State University at Northridge

2-0-2

Utah Valley

1-3-0

OT 2

Utah Valley

CSUN

Photo by: Paul Trafecanty

Matadors Stay Unbeaten Behind Favela's Golden Goal

8/27/2017 12:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

A golden goal in the 92nd minute of play from Marissa Favela gave CSUN Women's Soccer (2-0-2) a 2-1 victory over Utah Valley on Sunday morning at Matador Soccer Field. Assisting on the game winner, Ariana Tran also received a helper from Favela in the first half to notch her first goal of the season. Goalkeeper Jovani McCaskill collected four saves and moved ahead of Cynthia Tafoya for fourth place on the Matadors' all-time minutes list with over 3,947 minutes in goal. With the victory, head coach Keith West notched his 100th career win with the Matadors.

"The whole game I was trying to get my shots up. Ari [Tran] played me a perfect ball, and I saw the goalie dive the right way but luckily it got through," said Favela about the winning goal.

"Marissa's spent all summer working on [her game]," said West. "That goal was for [her work] this summer and for everything she's done. When you're prepared, you make those plays. She's been prepared this whole season and she's been lights out."

In the contest, the Matadors outshot Utah Valley 19-15 and held a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal while the Wolverines posted a 5-4 edge in corner kicks. CSUN was whistled for 19 fouls compared to Utah Valley who committed nine fouls.

The Matadors came out fast in the first half, posting a pair of shots in the first seven minutes of play including a shot on goal from Michaela Giordano. Moments later, Sydney Gilbert delivered a shot that rang off the crossbar, nearly giving her team the early lead.

In the 18th minute, the Matadors finally broke through after earning a corner kick. Favela took the kick and deposited the ball into a crowd near the goal where Tran headed in the ball just past the goal line.

CSUN controlled the possession of the ball for most of the first period until Utah Valley turned the tables near halftime. The Wolverines took four shots in the final nine minutes of the period including two corner kicks but the Matadors maintained a one-goal lead going into intermission.

In the second half, the Wolverines would even the match following a CSUN foul. With the ball deep into Matadors' side of the field, Breanna DeWaal sent a shot just out of the reach of McCaskill and inside the near post to square the game.

Down the stretch, the two teams traded close calls as the final ticks came off the game clock. The Matadors nearly took a late lead in the 82nd mibute as Gilbert headed a shot from within eight yards but goalkeeper Brooklyn Nielsen made a diving save going to her left. After DeWaal's had her shot saved by McCaskill in the 86th minute, she hit the cross bar with just seconds remaining in regulation.

The match entered overtime still even at 1-1 but the Matadors would quickly change that on the only shot of extra time. Tran would take control of the ball at near midfield and find a streaking Favela up the field. Moving to the top of the box, Favela right footed a shot to the left post and past Neilsen for the game winner.

With the strike, Favela has scored three goals in each of the last three Matador matches and has collected four points during the stretch. Tran's goal was her fourth of her career and first since her sophomore season in 2015.

Favela led the way with five shots with two on goal while Gilbert had three shots and the trio of Tran, Sylvia Trinh and Amy Aquino all had two. Defenders Amanda Martin and Lindsay Kutscher played the full 92 minutes on the field.

CSUN concludes a four-match homestand next Thursday (August 31) against Fresno State. Kick off is slated for 7 p.m.