Matadors Host San Jose State, Arizona State in Exhibition Contests

Thursday, August 10

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

San Jose State

Photo by: Paul Trafecanty

Matadors Host San Jose State, Arizona State in Exhibition Contests

8/9/2017 1:50:00 PM | Women's Soccer

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

The 2017 CSUN Women's Soccer team will host a pair of exhibition matches this weekend beginning with a Thursday evening contest against San Jose State at 7 p.m. and an afternoon meeting on Saturday with Arizona State at 2 p.m. Admission is free for all fans for each exhibition match.

The Matadors are coming off an historic 2016 campaign that saw CSUN win its first Big West Conference regular season title and finish 11-5-5. CSUN established itself as one of the best defensive teams in the country, posting a number of records including a program-best 15 shutouts, six-straight shutouts and six consecutive conference shutouts. In addition, the Matadors finished second the nation in shutout percentage (.714) and third in goals-against-average (.402). Following the season, head coach Keith West won his second Big West Conference Coach of the Year award as he led CSUN to its best conference winning percentage (.812) in team history.

This season, the Matadors welcome back a number of standouts from the 2016 team including the reigning Big West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, senior Jovani McCaskill. Named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-West Region First Team, McCaskill recorded a team-record 14 shutouts to go along with an 0.40 GAA and a .910 save percentage last year.

Another big part of the Matador defensive attack, junior Lindsay Kutscher led the Matadors with four goals including an assist in 21 matches last season as she earned All-Big West Second Team honors. Another Second Team selection, senior forward Cynthia Sanchez collected three goals and two assists including racking up 43 shots with 20 on goal.

Seniors Sylvia Trinh and Ariana Tran also return to the Matador midfield while Destinney Duron, Marissa Favela, Kirsten Von Meter and Amber Edemann also bring experience as juniors. An All-Big West Freshman Team member a season ago, sophomore Amanda Martin will again help anchor the Matador defense along with junior defender Christina Nixon.

San Jose State finished 10-6-4 last season and 7-2-1 in Mountain West play for a second-place finish in the conference. Senior forward Dorthe Hoppius collected eight goals and five assists last season en route to earning All-Mountain West First Team and NSCAA All-Pacific Region Second Team honors. Another all-region Second Team honoree, sophomore Kristen Amarikwa finished with three goals and an assist. Sophomore goalkeeper Ana Calero earned the most time in net with over 1,070 minutes played while she posted a 1.26 GAA and .634 save percentage. Head coach Lauren Hanson is in her fourth season at the helm of the Spartans.

Arizona State posted a 6-11-2 overall record and a 1-9-1 mark in Pac-12 play. The Sun Devils' leading scorer a season ago, senior forward Jazmarie Mader, netted eight goals in 12 matches. Junior transfer Jemma Purfield was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List after scoring 11 goals for South Alabama last year. In net, senior Megan Delaney started 10 matches last season and finished with a 1.32 GAA and .780 save percentage. Graham Winkworth is in his first season as the Sun Devil head coach.

In regular season play, the Matadors are 1-2-1 against San Jose State all time, which includes meetings in each of the last two seasons. CSUN outlasted the Spartans 4-3 in a wild affair in 2015 while the teams battled to a scoreless tie last season at Matador Soccer Field. Arizona State has defeated CSUN four times in five all-time meetings with the last game between the two programs taking place in 2014. The Sun Devils defeated the Matadors 2-0 in each of the last two meetings.

Following the exhibition matches, the Matadors will open up the regular season on the road against Long Beach State on Friday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. The 2017 home opener is set for Sunday, Aug. 20 against Pacific at 1 p.m.