CSUN Travels To SDSU; Hosts Pacific This Week

Men's Soccer Notebook #1

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—CSUN plays a match that counts in the overall standings for the first time since Nov. 9, 2019 this week as the Matadors open at San Diego State Thursday night before hosting Pacific Sunday night.

Coming off 1-7-2 Pac 12 Spring season, the Aztecs received votes in the preseason United Soccer Coaches poll. Three SDSU players earned All-Conference honors last Spring in Andre Ochoa, Blake Bowen, and Inigo Villaldea. Ochoa and Villadela both recorded six points last Spring. Tetsuya Kadono made 25 saves in 10 matches during the Spring.

This is the 23rd time that the teams are playing men's soccer with the Matadors holding a 12-8-2 series advantage. This is the first match between the clubs since Sept. 27, 2002 when CSUN defeated SDSU 2-1 in double overtime.

Pacific was to have opened the season Thursday night against California Baptist, but the game was postponed with no makeup announced. The Tigers played a nine-match schedule during the Spring 2021 campaign, going 2-7. Yazid Omri and Emory Rapaport both scored two goals last Spring to pace the Tigers. Yazid led the team in points with six. Eric Cotton played every minute in goal during the Spring for UOP. He made 24 saves.

The teams are playing for the first time since the 2016 NCAA Tournament when the Tigers defeated CSUN 1-0. The all-time series is tied 1-1.

Selected CSUN men's soccer matches will be streamed on ESPN+ beginning with Saturday's match against Pacific. Ghizal Hasan will be on the call for the season opener on ESPN+ Audio streams are scheduled for all home CSUN men's soccer matches. Alex Naveja will provide play-by-play of Sunday's match at GoMatadors.com/Radio.

Beginning with the home opener against Pacific, tickets will be required for entry. Adult tickets are $8, Youth tickets are $5 while groups of 10 or more are $3. To purchase tickets in advance, The AS Ticket Office is open Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For further information, call 818-677-2488 or e-mail TicketOffice@CSUNAS.org. The ticket booth at Matador Field will be open one before the scheduled start.

Despite holding the advantage in shots and shots on goal, CSUN fell 2-1 to the University of San Diego in an exhibition match last Saturday night at Matador Soccer Field. The Toreros opened the scoring at the 3:05 mark when Jake Schneider forced a CSUN turnover. He took possession and passed to Mason Tunbridge in front of the net where he made it 1-0. The Matadors tied the score in the 24th minute.

A Matador was taken down in the USD goalkeeper's box resulting in CSUN penalty kick. Kris Fourcand was selected by the Matadors, and he converted on the chance to tie the score. San Diego took advantage of another turnover which saw Miltadis Hadjipanayiotou take a Praise Maduekwe pass and score 17 seconds into the second half for what proved to be the game-winner.

CSUN outshot the Toreros 11-2 in the first half and 15-4 for the match. The Matadors held the 7-3 advantage in shots on goal and maintained possession 55% of the time. CSUN recorded six corner kicks, compared to five for USD.

~#UniteTheValley~

CSUN Travels To SDSU; Hosts Pacific This Week

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Players Mentioned

Kris Fourcand