Saturday, October 28
Riverside, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
4-6-8, 2-3-4
0
at
0
UC Riverside
3-9-5, 3-3-3
1
2
F
CSUN
0
0
0
UC Riverside
0
0
0
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Earns Scoreless Draw at UCR to Close Season
10/28/2023 9:24:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Soccer earned a hard-fought scoreless draw with UC Riverside in the regular season finale on Saturday night at UCR Soccer Stadium. By virtue of the draw, CSUN falls short for contention for this season's Big West Championship.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Needing a victory and three points to keep their season alive, the Matadors would generate the night's first shot on goal off the foot of Jorge Solorzano in the fourth minute. Meanwhile, UCR had its lone shot on goal of the first half taken in the 18th minute from Lukas Juodkunaitis, which was saved by Merrick Cook. The Highlanders held a slim 4-3 edge in shots to start while a total of 13 fouls and four yellow cards were issued heading into halftime.
The play quickened in the second half with each side attempting to break the scoreless tie. Michael Arrington missed a shot high, moments into the second period while the Matadors earned a pair of corner kicks followed by a shot on goal from Levin Gerhardt. CSUN would hold the Highlanders to five shots in the final half with none on goal and just one corner kick. On the flip side, CSUN generated eight attempts and five corner kicks.
Over the final 10 minutes, CSUN created several scoring threats but could not find the back of the net. Zack Harris missed a shot high from straight away and AJ Johnson had a solid look from above the 18-yard mark that just went wide right. Marley Edwards also put a shot on frame in the 86th minute. In the closing moments, the Matadors picked up a key corner kick, resulting in Arrington nearly finding the net through the teeth of the defense, but the ball was saved. A late foul in the 89th minute gave CSUN one last look, however, UCR's defense protected the net to preserve the draw.
NOTES OF THE GAME
"We tied again and that wasn't enough. Sad to see the season end. It was a season of what ifs."
#GoMatadors
HOW IT HAPPENED
Needing a victory and three points to keep their season alive, the Matadors would generate the night's first shot on goal off the foot of Jorge Solorzano in the fourth minute. Meanwhile, UCR had its lone shot on goal of the first half taken in the 18th minute from Lukas Juodkunaitis, which was saved by Merrick Cook. The Highlanders held a slim 4-3 edge in shots to start while a total of 13 fouls and four yellow cards were issued heading into halftime.
The play quickened in the second half with each side attempting to break the scoreless tie. Michael Arrington missed a shot high, moments into the second period while the Matadors earned a pair of corner kicks followed by a shot on goal from Levin Gerhardt. CSUN would hold the Highlanders to five shots in the final half with none on goal and just one corner kick. On the flip side, CSUN generated eight attempts and five corner kicks.
Over the final 10 minutes, CSUN created several scoring threats but could not find the back of the net. Zack Harris missed a shot high from straight away and AJ Johnson had a solid look from above the 18-yard mark that just went wide right. Marley Edwards also put a shot on frame in the 86th minute. In the closing moments, the Matadors picked up a key corner kick, resulting in Arrington nearly finding the net through the teeth of the defense, but the ball was saved. A late foul in the 89th minute gave CSUN one last look, however, UCR's defense protected the net to preserve the draw.
So close again...Michael Arrington almost puts its in. #GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/ftpOxLwqKa
— CSUN Men's Soccer (@CSUNMensSoccer) October 29, 2023
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN wraps up the season with a 4-6-8 overall record and 2-3-4 Big West mark. UC Riverside, which will have the sixth seed in the Big West Championship, holds a 3-9-5 overall record and 3-3-3 conference mark.
- After a 0-3 start to Big West play, CSUN finishes the year undefeated over its last six matches. The Matadors also close the season with three shutouts.
- On the night, the Matadors led in shots 10-6 while posting a 3-1 edge in shots on goal. CSUN also had seven corner kicks compared to UCR's three.
- A total of 26 fouls were committed with 10 yellow cards issued.
- Saturday represented the final match in the career of the CSUN senior class of Bryan Bustamante, Michael Arrington, AJ Johnson and Kanata Furutani. Bustamante played the full 90 minutes while Arrington had two shots in 80 minutes and Furutani played 56 minutes. Johnson notched two shots in 43 minutes off the bench.
"We tied again and that wasn't enough. Sad to see the season end. It was a season of what ifs."
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
CSUN
UCR
Goals
0
0
Shots
10
6
Shots on Goal
3
1
Saves
1
3
Corners
7
3
Fouls
13
13
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
mid
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
mid
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerMF
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