Sunday, September 22
Phoenix, Ariz.
1:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
6-1-3, 0-0-0
2
at
0
Grand Canyon
1-7-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
CSUN
2
0
2
Grand Canyon
0
0
0
Team Stats
CSUN
GCU
Goals
2
0
Shots
14
9
Shots on Goal
6
4
Saves
4
4
Corners
6
3
Fouls
8
7
Scoring Plays
Fitzsimmons, Bethany (3)
Assisted By: Reyes, Izabel
GOAL by CSUN Fitzsimmons, Bethany (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Reyes, Izabel, goal number 3 for season.
1:46
Gallardo, Stephanie (2)
Assisted By: White, Alexis
GOAL by CSUN Gallardo, Stephanie, Assist by White, Alexis, goal number 2 for season.
43:45
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerF/MF
/ Women's Soccer
Photo by: Paul Trafecanty
Matadors Blank GCU, Stretch Unbeaten Streak to Seven
9/22/2019 3:37:00 PM | Women's Soccer
PHOENIX, Ariz.---CSUN Women's Soccer (6-1-3) rode a pair of first-half goals to a 2-0 triumph over Grand Canyon on Sunday afternoon at GCU Stadium. Junior Bethany Fitzsimmons scored her third goal of the season while freshman Stephanie Gallardo hit her second. In net, sophomore Taylor Thames returned to the starting lineup and earned her third shutout of the year and posted four saves. CSUN stretched its unbeaten streak to seven-straight contests.
CSUN finished with a 14-6 edge in shots and 6-4 advantage in shots on goal on the afternoon. The Matadors also earned more corner kicks at 6-3. A total of 15 fouls were called with CSUN whistled for eight.
FIRST HALF
Less than two minutes into the contest, the Lopes had possession deep in their half of the field before a turnover found the foot of Izabel Reyes. From 10 yards out, Reyes made a touch pass to Fitzsimmons who struck the top-half of the goal to put the Matadors ahead just 1:46 into the contest. After the early goal, both sides traded looks at the net but the score remained 1-0. Thames made two saves in the opening period and withstood five total shots from the Lopes.
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CSUN strongly closed the half with several attacks resulting in its second goal. From over 30 yards away, Avery DeWitt nearly hit the goal but her shot banged off the crossbar while Amya LawsonKitchen missed high of the net from 10 yards out. The Matadors would come through in the 44th minute when Alexis White dribbled toward the center of the Lopes' final third and found an open Gallardo. A right-footed shot from Gallardo above the 18-yard mark sailed over the head of goalie Lauren Garthwaite to give CSUN a 2-0 edge heading into the break.
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SECOND HALF
The Lopes had a solid look at the net early in the second half on a corner kick but Camryn Larson missed wide from six yards on a mostly guarded net. CSUN almost notched its third goal in the 70th minute when Gallardo brought out Garthwaite from her line with a drive up the center. Gallardo would find Cindy Arteaga from 15 yards but Garthwaite made a diving stop.
Another close call occured in the 76th minute when Ciara Bianchi hit the crossbar on a corner kick. On the ensuing possession, the Matadors traveled up the field, earning a 3-on-1 advantage, but Ashley Cruz had her shot blocked out of bounds. In the 87th minute, DeWitt put a shot on frame from the top-right corner of the box then Thames made her final save of the match moments later off the foot Sophia Roberts from the left wing. The Matadors outshot the Lopes 8-4 in the second half and put four of their shots on goal.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH KEITH WEST
"It was a gutsy effort today. GCU didn't have a game this week and we were coming off a double-overtime game on Friday. It was a complete team effort with everybody playing. For us, when someone is not on, we have someone else ready to pick up the slack and it's really awesome to be a part of that. I felt we were very good at times today - we still have some work to do but we are making progress offensively, defensively and mentality wise."
"Taylor was very active for us and did a great job in goal. It's great to have two good 'keepers in Taylor and Amanda [Delgado] in our program doing so well."
GAME NOTES
CSUN's .750 winning percentage through its first 10 matches is the program's best since the 2005 team started 9-1.
Reyes earned her first career point on the assist to Fitzsimmons in the first half while White notched her first assist of the season on Gallardo's goal. Fitzsimmons now has eight career goals with the Matadors along with 17 points in her three seasons.
UP NEXT
The Matadors return home for their final two non-conference games next week. CSUN hosts Pepperdine on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. before taking on Denver next Sunday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m.
#UniteTheValley
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CSUN finished with a 14-6 edge in shots and 6-4 advantage in shots on goal on the afternoon. The Matadors also earned more corner kicks at 6-3. A total of 15 fouls were called with CSUN whistled for eight.
FIRST HALF
Less than two minutes into the contest, the Lopes had possession deep in their half of the field before a turnover found the foot of Izabel Reyes. From 10 yards out, Reyes made a touch pass to Fitzsimmons who struck the top-half of the goal to put the Matadors ahead just 1:46 into the contest. After the early goal, both sides traded looks at the net but the score remained 1-0. Thames made two saves in the opening period and withstood five total shots from the Lopes.
Â
CSUN strongly closed the half with several attacks resulting in its second goal. From over 30 yards away, Avery DeWitt nearly hit the goal but her shot banged off the crossbar while Amya LawsonKitchen missed high of the net from 10 yards out. The Matadors would come through in the 44th minute when Alexis White dribbled toward the center of the Lopes' final third and found an open Gallardo. A right-footed shot from Gallardo above the 18-yard mark sailed over the head of goalie Lauren Garthwaite to give CSUN a 2-0 edge heading into the break.
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SECOND HALF
The Lopes had a solid look at the net early in the second half on a corner kick but Camryn Larson missed wide from six yards on a mostly guarded net. CSUN almost notched its third goal in the 70th minute when Gallardo brought out Garthwaite from her line with a drive up the center. Gallardo would find Cindy Arteaga from 15 yards but Garthwaite made a diving stop.
Another close call occured in the 76th minute when Ciara Bianchi hit the crossbar on a corner kick. On the ensuing possession, the Matadors traveled up the field, earning a 3-on-1 advantage, but Ashley Cruz had her shot blocked out of bounds. In the 87th minute, DeWitt put a shot on frame from the top-right corner of the box then Thames made her final save of the match moments later off the foot Sophia Roberts from the left wing. The Matadors outshot the Lopes 8-4 in the second half and put four of their shots on goal.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH KEITH WEST
"It was a gutsy effort today. GCU didn't have a game this week and we were coming off a double-overtime game on Friday. It was a complete team effort with everybody playing. For us, when someone is not on, we have someone else ready to pick up the slack and it's really awesome to be a part of that. I felt we were very good at times today - we still have some work to do but we are making progress offensively, defensively and mentality wise."
"Taylor was very active for us and did a great job in goal. It's great to have two good 'keepers in Taylor and Amanda [Delgado] in our program doing so well."
GAME NOTES
CSUN's .750 winning percentage through its first 10 matches is the program's best since the 2005 team started 9-1.
Reyes earned her first career point on the assist to Fitzsimmons in the first half while White notched her first assist of the season on Gallardo's goal. Fitzsimmons now has eight career goals with the Matadors along with 17 points in her three seasons.
UP NEXT
The Matadors return home for their final two non-conference games next week. CSUN hosts Pepperdine on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. before taking on Denver next Sunday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m.
#UniteTheValley
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