Thursday, September 8
Northridge, Calif.
7:30 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
1-6-0, 0-0-0
0
vs
2
USC
3-1-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Southern California
2
0
2
CSUN
0
0
0
Photo by: Connor Clark
Matadors Drop Hard-Fought Battle to USC, 2-0
9/8/2022 10:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Two late first-half goals within a six-minute span were the difference in CSUN's 2-0 loss to USC on Thursday at Matador Soccer Field. The Matadors (1-6) played USC to a scoreless tie for 35 minutes before the Trojans' offense broke through with a pair of goals. In net, freshman Hayden Mauldin recorded 10 saves on the night.
The Trojans pressured the Matadors at the outset, quickly racking up three shots in the first five minutes. Mauldin made three of her 10 saves on the night in the first 11-plus minutes including two stops off headers in the box.
CSUN hung tough for most of the first half, keeping the ball out of its net. The Matadors' netminder was active throughout the first half, cleaning out would be scoring chances from the opposition while making several saves. Mauldin notched two more saves near the 27-minute mark while the Matadors withstood a USC goal on an offside inside the goalie box.
USC would break through in the 36th minute on a counter attack starting near midfield. Simone Jackson traveled along the right wing before sending a cross toward Nicole Payne who finished the play near the net for a 1-0 Trojan lead.
Jackson would get into the scoring column herself in the 41st minute, capitalizing on a CSUN turnover on its side of the field. Helena Sampaio intercepted a pass and sent the ball ahead to Jackson. After a dribble, Jackson found the net inside the far post to double USC's lead.
After intermission, CSUN's defense stood tall in the second half, keeping the high-powered Trojan offense off the scoreboard. Behind the Matadors' stingy backline, Mauldin tallied five saves in the second half.
Cindy Arteaga would register the Matadors' first shot of the night in the 57th minute on a drive up the right wing. Arteaga also missed wide of the net in the 67th minute. Late in the match, Sam Bustamante received a quality look from the left corner of the box, but the shot went wide. Arteaga took the Matadors' last attempt with four minutes remaining, missing high of the crossbar.
GAME NOTES
USC outshot CSUN 22-4 and held a 12-0 edge in shots on goal. The Trojans also had six corner kicks compared to the Matadors' three. A total of 21 fouls were committed in the match with CSUN whistled for 15 of them. Ashly Torres was shown the yellow card in the 75th minute.
The quartet of Angelica Claiborne, Ashly Torres, Gabriela Robles and Kacie Garrity played the full 90 minutes. Freshman Cassidy Imperial-Pham made her collegiate debut in the match, playing 31 minutes off the bench. Imperial-Pham is the 16th Matador newcomer to debut with the team this season as well as the 14th freshman.
ACCORDING TO COACH CHRISTINE JOHNSON
"Credit to USC, they're a very good team. I know we expected them to come out the way that they did. The moment where we broke down, we lost belief in executing the game plan. I think our response in the second half was a testament to what this team's capable of. We're obviously getting beat up right now and they're still playing. They're still responding. I think we'll be very prepared for conference. I don't feel good about the loss, but I feel good about where we are as a team."
UP NEXT
CSUN plays its final tune-up before the start of Big West play when it hosts UC Irvine in a non-conference game on Sunday at 5 p.m. Ghizal Hasan has the call on ESPN+.
#UniteTheValley
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The Trojans pressured the Matadors at the outset, quickly racking up three shots in the first five minutes. Mauldin made three of her 10 saves on the night in the first 11-plus minutes including two stops off headers in the box.
CSUN hung tough for most of the first half, keeping the ball out of its net. The Matadors' netminder was active throughout the first half, cleaning out would be scoring chances from the opposition while making several saves. Mauldin notched two more saves near the 27-minute mark while the Matadors withstood a USC goal on an offside inside the goalie box.
USC would break through in the 36th minute on a counter attack starting near midfield. Simone Jackson traveled along the right wing before sending a cross toward Nicole Payne who finished the play near the net for a 1-0 Trojan lead.
Jackson would get into the scoring column herself in the 41st minute, capitalizing on a CSUN turnover on its side of the field. Helena Sampaio intercepted a pass and sent the ball ahead to Jackson. After a dribble, Jackson found the net inside the far post to double USC's lead.
After intermission, CSUN's defense stood tall in the second half, keeping the high-powered Trojan offense off the scoreboard. Behind the Matadors' stingy backline, Mauldin tallied five saves in the second half.
Cindy Arteaga would register the Matadors' first shot of the night in the 57th minute on a drive up the right wing. Arteaga also missed wide of the net in the 67th minute. Late in the match, Sam Bustamante received a quality look from the left corner of the box, but the shot went wide. Arteaga took the Matadors' last attempt with four minutes remaining, missing high of the crossbar.
GAME NOTES
USC outshot CSUN 22-4 and held a 12-0 edge in shots on goal. The Trojans also had six corner kicks compared to the Matadors' three. A total of 21 fouls were committed in the match with CSUN whistled for 15 of them. Ashly Torres was shown the yellow card in the 75th minute.
The quartet of Angelica Claiborne, Ashly Torres, Gabriela Robles and Kacie Garrity played the full 90 minutes. Freshman Cassidy Imperial-Pham made her collegiate debut in the match, playing 31 minutes off the bench. Imperial-Pham is the 16th Matador newcomer to debut with the team this season as well as the 14th freshman.
ACCORDING TO COACH CHRISTINE JOHNSON
"Credit to USC, they're a very good team. I know we expected them to come out the way that they did. The moment where we broke down, we lost belief in executing the game plan. I think our response in the second half was a testament to what this team's capable of. We're obviously getting beat up right now and they're still playing. They're still responding. I think we'll be very prepared for conference. I don't feel good about the loss, but I feel good about where we are as a team."
UP NEXT
CSUN plays its final tune-up before the start of Big West play when it hosts UC Irvine in a non-conference game on Sunday at 5 p.m. Ghizal Hasan has the call on ESPN+.
#UniteTheValley
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Team Stats
USC
CSUN
Goals
2
0
Shots
22
4
Shots on Goal
12
0
Saves
0
10
Corners
6
3
Fouls
6
15
Scoring Plays
Nicole Payne (1)
Assisted By: Simone Jackson
Counterattack up the field, 80 down right wing, cross to middle of box, easy tapper for 11
35:13
Simone Jackson (2)
Assisted By: Helena Sampaio
CSUN turnover, 22 kicks ahead to 80, dribble then finds the far corner of net.
40:38
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
MF/F
/ Women's SoccerF/MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF/D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F/MF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
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