Saturday, October 21
Northridge, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
4-6-7, 2-3-3
2
vs
2
UC Santa Barbara
9-6-2, 4-2-2
1
2
F
UC Santa Barbara
1
1
2
CSUN
1
1
2
Photo by: Connor Clark
CSUN Battles UCSB to a 2-2 Draw on Senior Night
10/21/2023 9:43:00 PM | Men's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Freshman Zack Harris scored two goals to help CSUN Men's Soccer earn a 2-2 draw with UC Santa Barbara on Senior Night Saturday at Matador Soccer Field. Merrick Cook recorded six saves in his fifth consecutive start in goal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN would strike first in just the ninth minute of action when the combination of Jorge Solorzano and Sebastian Fuentes set up Zack Harris on the right wing. Harris took.a dribble into the top and delivered a shot that cleared the defense and into the left corner of the net for a CSUN 1-0 lead. The Gauchos would answer back in the 21st minute after a strong drive up by Caden Vom Steeg through the teeth of the Matador defense. Vom Steeg sent a cross to the left where Lucas Gonzalez found room and scored the equalizer. Following the UCSB goal, CSUN would get quality looks from Solorzano and Jamar Ricketts but both shots were saved by Leroy Zeller. Late in the half, UCSB's Pablo Figueroa nearly hit the net on a header while Alexis Ledoux had a shot saved by Merrick Cook.
After intermission, Cook collected a pair of saves, stopping shots from Nalu Mack and Haruki Utsumi. Rickets almost came away with the go-ahead strike on a long drive up the left side but his shot was just wide. The Matadors would turn to Harris to regain the lead in the 62nd minute. On that play, Harris dribbled the ball through the UCSB defense into the Gauchos' box before having a shot blocked. However, Harris picked up the ball, dribbled further into the box then struck the net to put the Matadors back on top 2-1.
Down the stretch, the Gauchos hit the equalizer in the 79th minute. Alexis Ledoux would set up the scoring chance by finding Eddie Villeda on the left flank. Villeda dribbled the ball and delivered a low shot that was saved, but Ledoux trailed the play and delivered a header off the rebound to even the game at 2-2. CSUN earned a corner kick in the closing minutes along with missed shots from Levin Gerhardt and Solorzano. UCSB also had its chances late, receiving a laser from Ledoux atop the box in the 89th minute, however, Cook made a game-saving save where he hit the ball over the crossbar.
NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO COACH TERRY DAVILA
"Our backs have been against the wall the whole year in the Big West. We started off slow and we're starting to play a little bit better. We played against a quality UCSB team that's healthy now. It was a back-and-forth game. When you look at the stats it was a very even match and it could have went either way. A fair result is a tie. I thought we could have won and they could have won. It was a good game."
ZACK HARRIS ON HIS PERFORMANCE TONIGHT
UP NEXT
CSUN hits the road for its final regular season match against UC Riverside. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
Gallery: (10-21-2023) 2023 Men's Soccer Senior Ceremony
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN would strike first in just the ninth minute of action when the combination of Jorge Solorzano and Sebastian Fuentes set up Zack Harris on the right wing. Harris took.a dribble into the top and delivered a shot that cleared the defense and into the left corner of the net for a CSUN 1-0 lead. The Gauchos would answer back in the 21st minute after a strong drive up by Caden Vom Steeg through the teeth of the Matador defense. Vom Steeg sent a cross to the left where Lucas Gonzalez found room and scored the equalizer. Following the UCSB goal, CSUN would get quality looks from Solorzano and Jamar Ricketts but both shots were saved by Leroy Zeller. Late in the half, UCSB's Pablo Figueroa nearly hit the net on a header while Alexis Ledoux had a shot saved by Merrick Cook.
Zack Harris scores for the Matadors! Assist by Sebastian Fuentes!
— CSUN Men's Soccer (@CSUNMensSoccer) October 22, 2023
CSUN leads against UCSB, 1-0!#gomatadors pic.twitter.com/85wzX9XXHL
After intermission, Cook collected a pair of saves, stopping shots from Nalu Mack and Haruki Utsumi. Rickets almost came away with the go-ahead strike on a long drive up the left side but his shot was just wide. The Matadors would turn to Harris to regain the lead in the 62nd minute. On that play, Harris dribbled the ball through the UCSB defense into the Gauchos' box before having a shot blocked. However, Harris picked up the ball, dribbled further into the box then struck the net to put the Matadors back on top 2-1.
Goal by Zack Harris! His second of the game!
— CSUN Men's Soccer (@CSUNMensSoccer) October 22, 2023
The Matadors take the lead, 2-1! #gomatadors pic.twitter.com/VLSwtkZQlq
Down the stretch, the Gauchos hit the equalizer in the 79th minute. Alexis Ledoux would set up the scoring chance by finding Eddie Villeda on the left flank. Villeda dribbled the ball and delivered a low shot that was saved, but Ledoux trailed the play and delivered a header off the rebound to even the game at 2-2. CSUN earned a corner kick in the closing minutes along with missed shots from Levin Gerhardt and Solorzano. UCSB also had its chances late, receiving a laser from Ledoux atop the box in the 89th minute, however, Cook made a game-saving save where he hit the ball over the crossbar.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- With the draw, CSUN holds a 4-6-7 overall record and a 2-3-3 mark in Big West play while UCSB is 9-6-2 overall and 4-2-2 in conference action.
- Making just his third start of the year, Zack Harris' two goals are the first goals of his collegiate career.
- Sebastian Fuentes and Jorge Solorzano were credited with assists on Harris' first goal.
- UCSB led CSUN 13-10 in shots while the Gauchos held a 8-5 edge in shots on goal.
- CSUN slips to seventh place in The Big West standings with the draw. The Matadors, who have nine points, are one point back of Cal State Bakersfield for sixth place and two points back of UC Riverside for fifth place. The top six teams in The Big West standings will qualify for the conference tournament.
- Prior to the match, the Matadors celebrated a four member senior class consisting of Bryan Bustamante, Michael Arrington, AJ Johnson and Kanata Furutani.
ACCORDING TO COACH TERRY DAVILA
"Our backs have been against the wall the whole year in the Big West. We started off slow and we're starting to play a little bit better. We played against a quality UCSB team that's healthy now. It was a back-and-forth game. When you look at the stats it was a very even match and it could have went either way. A fair result is a tie. I thought we could have won and they could have won. It was a good game."
Head coach Terry Davila on tonight's draw with UCSB.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/8UIYkLja9z
— CSUN Men's Soccer (@CSUNMensSoccer) October 22, 2023
ZACK HARRIS ON HIS PERFORMANCE TONIGHT
Freshman Zack Harris on his two goals tonight and picking up a point in the Big West standings.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/38Ki46kN04
— CSUN Men's Soccer (@CSUNMensSoccer) October 22, 2023
UP NEXT
CSUN hits the road for its final regular season match against UC Riverside. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
UCSB
CSUN
Goals
2
2
Shots
13
10
Shots on Goal
8
5
Saves
3
6
Corners
5
3
Fouls
16
12
Scoring Plays
Zack Harris (2)
Assisted By: Sebastian Fuentes , Jorge Solorzano
Drive up middle field, 7 pass ahead to 18, touch pass to 32 on the right flank, scored at left corner of the net.
08:10
Lucas Gonzalez (5)
Assisted By: Caden Vom Steeg
3 takes the ball right to left, cross to 10 wide open on the left wing.
20:41
Zack Harris (2)
GOAL by CSUN Harris, Zack.
61:14
Alexis Ledoux (3)
Assisted By: Eddie Villeda
Off the save, 7 header scores in front of the goal
78:27
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
mid
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerMen's Soccer vs. CSU San Bernardino
Wednesday, August 15
Men's Soccer Schedule 2018
Thursday, June 21
MSOC vs. Sacramento State Highlights
Wednesday, November 01
MSOC vs. UC Riverside Highlights
Wednesday, October 18