Matadors Rally Past CBU for First Win of the Season

Saturday, August 20

Riverside, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

1-1-0, 0-0-0

California Baptist

0-1-0, 0-0-0

CSUN

California Baptist

Photo by: Will Navarro

Matadors Rally Past CBU for First Win of the Season

8/20/2022 9:39:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer (1-1) received second-half goals from Cindy Arteaga and Ashley Cruz to rally past California Baptist 2-1 on Saturday at CBU Soccer Stadium. Goalkeeper Taylor Thames registered seven saves in front of the net to collect her first win since the 2019 season. The Matadors' two goals came within six minutes apart in the match.

It was fairly even in the shot department in the first half with CBU holding a narrow 8-6 edge in shots while each team put three shots on goal.

Arteaga had the Matadors' best look of the first period in the 15th minute when she found room in the box and sent a shot toward the bottom center of the net before Noa Schumacher made a save.

Thames was tested in the first half, but was up for the challenge throughout the 45-minute session. After withstanding a pair of shots from Malia Cerdon and Lourdes Bosch, Thames snuffed an another attempt from Bosch in 23rd minute for a save.

In the 26th minute, CSUN though committed a costly handball in its own box, resulting in a penalty kick. Thames would keep Ari Coronado's PK out of the net, however, Coronado rebounded the shot attempt and looped in a second shot into the right corner of the goal for a 1-0 CBU lead.

CSUN had a pair of shots reach the frame in the remaining minutes of the first half from Riley Goossen-Brown and Cami Alarcon while Izabel Reyes had a quality look in the middle of the box that went wide.

The Matadors came out as the aggressors in the second half as the tandem of Arteaga and Cruz pressured the CBU defense. After missed shots from both players, the tandem would spark CSUN's first goal in the 61st minute. Coming away with possession at midfield, Cruz beat her defender and kicked the ball ahead to a streaking Arteaga. Arteaga made two dribbles, making her way inside the six-yard mark before finding the low left corner of the net for the equalizer.

Less than six minutes later, Cruz would create her own scoring opportunity with a long run up the field. Traveling over half of the length of the field, Cruz took six dribbles, beat several defenders and finished at the net just past a diving Schumacher to put the Matadors on top 2-1.

CSUN's defense was strong the rest of the way in protecting the one-goal advantage. Thames left her feet to stop another Bosch attempt in the 61st minute then made two outstanding saves in the 72nd minute. CSUN's goalkeeper had to make another stellar save in the 83rd minute when CSUN committed a foul just outside of its box. Morgan Witz took the 19-yarder and looked to sneak the ball through the top of the goal, but Thames was able to knock the ball out of the goal with a one-handed save.

Marcella Brooks had CBU's last shot of the night in 84th minute, however her attempt missed wide left.

GAME NOTES
The Lancers outshot the Matadors 24-12 and held a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal. Both teams had four corner kicks while each squad committed 10 fouls. Kacie Garrity was shown the yellow card in the 25th minute.

Cruz made her season debut in the match after missing last Thursday's opener at Pepperdine. Arteaga along with Cruz had three shots and two shots on goal apiece. Defenders Gabriela Robles and Goossen-Brown along with midfielder Ashly Torres played the full 90 minutes on the field.

Saturday represented the first match ever between CSUN and California Baptist in women's soccer.

ACCORDING TO COACH CHRISTINE JOHNSON
"Since the Pepperdine game, the message has been we have to respond. Things in life and in general are not given to you, and the game is not given to you either. That's been the messaging along with why they play. I think they did a great job of responding. I really do think we controlled the entire game. It was kind of a matter of time before we were going to get one.

Ashley [Cruz] is such a professional with the way she handles herself and takes care of her body. I wasn't doubting she would be up to form. It was just making sure when we played her it was in a healthy and safe way. I think she was anxious to get out here and she had some motivation since she's been out for so long."

UP NEXT
CSUN closes a three-match road stretch with a Thursday meeting with UCLA at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks.

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