BWC Tourney Spot On The Line As CSUN Travels To UC Irvine

Men's Soccer Notebook

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—CSUN looks to secure a berth in the 2019 Big West Tournament this weekend when the Matadors travel to UC Irvine Saturday night. Kick is set for 7 p.m. with live stats available on GoMatadors.com.

CSUN (6-7-3, 1-3-2 Big West) is in a must-win position in order to have a chance to make the post-season. A win at UC Irvine, coupled with a loss by Cal State Fullerton (hosting UC Riverside) and/or Sacramento State (at No. 23 UC Davis) represents the necessary combo the Matadors need to make the Big West Tournament.

UC Irvine begins the week tied for first in the Big West with UC Davis as both clubs have 13 points (4-1-1). The Anteaters are 7-5-5 overall. UCI knocked off UC Davis on Oct. 16, giving the Anteaters the edge for the No. 1 tournament seed should they finish with identical points (either 13, 14, or 16) with the Aggies. However, a loss by both UC Davis (to Sacramento State) and UCI (to CSUN) coupled with a UC Santa Barbara win (against Cal Poly) would give the Gauchos the top seed as well as the outright regular season title. The possibility of a three-way tie at 14 points exists between the three aforementioned teams, which would occur if UC Irvine and UC Davis tie, and UCSB wins. UCI has head-to-head wins against both foes and earns the No. 1 seed on that basis.

Christian Gutierrez is fifth in the league in shots (43, tied with one other), fifth in goals (6, tied with three others), and 10th in points (12). Ford Parker is second in the conference in goals against average (0.99, tied with one other), sixth in saves (44), and seventh in save percentage (.721). His four shutouts are tied with three others for the third most in shutouts. This is the 52nd time that CSUN and UC Irvine are playing men's soccer with the Matadors leading the all-time series 24-21-6.

CSUN's David Preys was named Big West Conference Men's Soccer Freshman of the Week Oct. 28. The Studio City native allowed just one goal in 189:49 minutes of action as the Matadors tied UC Riverside (1-1) and No. 18 UC Santa Barbara (0-0). He stopped three shots against the Highlanders and two more against the Gauchos. He recorded 0.47 goals against average and .833 save percentage for the week.

~#UniteTheValley~

BWC Tourney Spot On The Line As CSUN Travels To UC Irvine

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David Preys

California State University Northridge Athletics