Photo by: Connor Clark
CSUN's Solorzano Named Freshman of the Year, Four Total Earn All-Big West Nods
10/31/2023 12:01:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Complete All-Big West Team
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Four members of the CSUN Men's Soccer team received All-Big West accolades on Tuesday, the league office announced. Jorge Solorzano was named Big West Freshman of the Year and placed on the All-Freshman Team while Jamar Ricketts collected All-Big West First Team accolades. CSUN's seniors Bryan Bustamante and Michael Arrington would also receive an Honorable Mention.
Originally from Palmdale, Solorzano finished the regular season seventh in The Big West in goals scored (5) and eighth in points (13) while competing in all 18 matches. Solorzano ranked second on the team in every offensive category including assists (3), shots (25) and shots on goal (16). On the scoring side, Solorzano netted four of his goals over the first five matches of the season. He also registered his three assists in Big West contests.
Solorzano's first goal of the year came in the season opener at Ohio State, where he scored on a free kick with 20 seconds remaining. That goal came in just one minute of action. He also drilled an 88th minute penalty kick in a draw at UCLA.
Solorzano is the fifth Matador in team history to be named Big West Freshman of the Year and the second consecutive. David Diaz would earn the award last season for CSUN while other previous winners include Kevin Guppy (2005), Willie Sims (2003) and Yossi Raz (2001).
A native of Montclair, N.J., Ricketts had a career season on the pitch for CSUN. Ricketts led the Matadors with a career-high eight goals, five assists, 21 points and 37 shots with 23 on goal. He also hit three game-winning goals, two of which in Big West play. Ricketts concluded the regular season ranked third in The Big West in goals and points and fourth in assists while placing first in shots on goal and sixth in shots. Nationally, Ricketts was one of the best at shot accuracy, ranking third in Division I soccer with a .622 shot on goal percentage.
Ricketts saved his best for Big West play and late-game situations. He scored a second-half goal at UC Davis to help CSUN earn a draw. A game later, Ricketts scored a thrilling game-winning goal at UC Irvine in the 89th minute where he traveled more than half of the length of the field. He also recorded his first career brace against UC San Diego, scoring a game-winning strike in the 85th minute.
A two-time Big West Offensive Player of the Week during the season, Ricketts' first team selection is the second of his career.
Bustamante, a Reseda native, was a mainstay on the backline for CSUN this season. He led the team in minutes played (1,573) and saw action in every minute on 14 occasions. Bustamante started in each contest for the first time in his career and also contributed offensively, netting his first career goal in a draw with Dayton early in the season. The 6-0 defender finished with nine shots, a new personal high, and two shots on goal.
Bustamante began his CSUN career in 2019 but would not see his first action on the field until 2021. Over the past three seasons, Bustamante played in 40 matches while making 38 starts. Bustamante is a first time All-Big West honoree this year.
Another defensive stalwart, Arrington played in a career-high 15 matches and made 14 starts. The Fresno native played full time in five contests while he recorded a career-high three assists. All three of his helpers would come in Big West play this year, two of which came in 1-1 ties. Arrington also recorded a career-high 12 shots with four on goal in 1,150 total minutes played.
A Fresno City College transfer, Arrington lettered three seasons with the Matadors from 2021-23. He competed in 39 matches, making 29 starts. Arrington would total one goal, three assists and 12 shots with four on goal in 2,555 career minutes. His Honorable Mention is his first All-Big West award.
#GoMatadors
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NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Four members of the CSUN Men's Soccer team received All-Big West accolades on Tuesday, the league office announced. Jorge Solorzano was named Big West Freshman of the Year and placed on the All-Freshman Team while Jamar Ricketts collected All-Big West First Team accolades. CSUN's seniors Bryan Bustamante and Michael Arrington would also receive an Honorable Mention.
Originally from Palmdale, Solorzano finished the regular season seventh in The Big West in goals scored (5) and eighth in points (13) while competing in all 18 matches. Solorzano ranked second on the team in every offensive category including assists (3), shots (25) and shots on goal (16). On the scoring side, Solorzano netted four of his goals over the first five matches of the season. He also registered his three assists in Big West contests.
Solorzano's first goal of the year came in the season opener at Ohio State, where he scored on a free kick with 20 seconds remaining. That goal came in just one minute of action. He also drilled an 88th minute penalty kick in a draw at UCLA.
Solorzano is the fifth Matador in team history to be named Big West Freshman of the Year and the second consecutive. David Diaz would earn the award last season for CSUN while other previous winners include Kevin Guppy (2005), Willie Sims (2003) and Yossi Raz (2001).
A native of Montclair, N.J., Ricketts had a career season on the pitch for CSUN. Ricketts led the Matadors with a career-high eight goals, five assists, 21 points and 37 shots with 23 on goal. He also hit three game-winning goals, two of which in Big West play. Ricketts concluded the regular season ranked third in The Big West in goals and points and fourth in assists while placing first in shots on goal and sixth in shots. Nationally, Ricketts was one of the best at shot accuracy, ranking third in Division I soccer with a .622 shot on goal percentage.
Ricketts saved his best for Big West play and late-game situations. He scored a second-half goal at UC Davis to help CSUN earn a draw. A game later, Ricketts scored a thrilling game-winning goal at UC Irvine in the 89th minute where he traveled more than half of the length of the field. He also recorded his first career brace against UC San Diego, scoring a game-winning strike in the 85th minute.
A two-time Big West Offensive Player of the Week during the season, Ricketts' first team selection is the second of his career.
Bustamante, a Reseda native, was a mainstay on the backline for CSUN this season. He led the team in minutes played (1,573) and saw action in every minute on 14 occasions. Bustamante started in each contest for the first time in his career and also contributed offensively, netting his first career goal in a draw with Dayton early in the season. The 6-0 defender finished with nine shots, a new personal high, and two shots on goal.
Bustamante began his CSUN career in 2019 but would not see his first action on the field until 2021. Over the past three seasons, Bustamante played in 40 matches while making 38 starts. Bustamante is a first time All-Big West honoree this year.
Another defensive stalwart, Arrington played in a career-high 15 matches and made 14 starts. The Fresno native played full time in five contests while he recorded a career-high three assists. All three of his helpers would come in Big West play this year, two of which came in 1-1 ties. Arrington also recorded a career-high 12 shots with four on goal in 1,150 total minutes played.
A Fresno City College transfer, Arrington lettered three seasons with the Matadors from 2021-23. He competed in 39 matches, making 29 starts. Arrington would total one goal, three assists and 12 shots with four on goal in 2,555 career minutes. His Honorable Mention is his first All-Big West award.
#GoMatadors
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