Matadors Suffer 2-0 Loss to San Diego

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

CSUN Women's Soccer (4-3-4) fell 2-0 to San Diego on Sunday afternoon at Matador Soccer Field. Cynthia Sanchez finished with a team-high three shots while Sylvia Trinh finished with two. The Matadors outshot the Toreros for the match, 11-7, and posted an 8-3 edge in shots on goal, however, the Toreros' Summer Mason scored a pair of first half goals to lead her team to victory.

"We had our chances," said head coach Keith West. "They scored two bloopers but give them [credit] since they scored them. We had four or five [chances] that cleared off the line. You got to score your opportunities. That's what this game's about. We didn't play well against Eastern Washington but we scored two goals and we won that game. That's the game of soccer."

San Diego jumped out to the early lead in the opening minutes of the match. In the seventh minute, off a turnover at midfield, Mina Ghazizadeh found Mason down the right side. Mason positioned herself near the top of the box and sent the ball to the left far post. The shot sailed over the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Jovani McCaskill and into the goal.

CSUN went on the attack after the strike, placing three shots on goal over a two-minute span. Sanchez took one of those three shots from inside 15 yards but goalkeeper Amber Michel made one of her seven saves on the day to keep her team ahead.

In the 20th minute, off a throw-in near midifeld, Halle Walls delivered a touch pass to Mason who went down the sideline and deposited a long shot from the left wing. The looping shot hit the top right corner of the netting to give USD a 2-0 lead.

The Matadors pressured the Toreros for the remainder of the first half, gaining several quality looks at the net. In the 24th minute, Sanchez appeared as though she would put CSUN on the scoreboard as she beat her defender and went one on one with Michel. However, Michel moved away from her position to knock away Sanchez's shot attempt.

In another close call, Sanchez traveled up the left wing and fired a shot that Michel stopped momentarily. The ball hit the ground and traveled near the goal line but did not cross the line. A scrum would take shape near the net until the play was stopped after a yellow card was issued to Trinh.

Minutes later, CSUN was given a penalty kick after a yellow card was given to USD's Tara Meier. Lindsay Kutscher took the kick and looked for the left corner post but Michel was able to get a hand on the ball and keep the ball out of the net.

Outscoring the Toreros 9-3 in the opening half, the Matadors were held to two shots after intermission. Ariana Tran took CSUN's first shot of the second half in the 59th minute while Marissa Favela took a late shot in the 85th minute but both attempts went high of the netting.

Amanda Martin, Kirsten Von Meter, Kutscher, Tran and Trinh all played the full 90 minutes on Sunday. In net, McCaskill made one save on the afternoon.

CSUN now turns its attention to Big West Conference play set to start next Sunday at Cal State Fullerton. Kick off is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Matadors Suffer 2-0 Loss to San Diego

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Team Stats

Cynthia Sanchez

Sylvia Trinh

Bret Guarino

Ariana Tran

Players Mentioned

Marissa Favela

Lindsay Kutscher

Amanda Martin

Jovani McCaskill

Cynthia Sanchez

Ariana Tran

Sylvia Trinh

Kirsten Von Meter