Women's Soccer Hosts Two Exhibition Matches This Week

Tuesday, August 8

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

California Baptist

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

Women's Soccer Hosts Two Exhibition Matches This Week

8/7/2023 10:39:00 AM | Women's Soccer

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---The CSUN Women's Soccer team kicks off the fall slate of matches with two exhibition contests at Matador Soccer Field this week. The Matadors host California Baptist at 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening before facing Hope International to close the week on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. All fans will receive free admission for both exhibition games.

MIX OF VETERANS AND NEWCOMERS
Head coach Christine Johnson has assembled a roster with a mix of veterans and new faces. CSUN returns 18 letterwinners on this season's roster along with two returning redshirts and 15 total newcomers. In contrast to last season's team that had 17 freshmen, the Matadors have 12 total freshmen this year including 10 true freshmen.

Forward Ashley Cruz is the team's top returning point scorer with six recorded a season ago as well as two goals and two assists. One of three to play in all 19 games last season, Kacie Garrity returns for her final season after posting a team-high four assists a year ago. Sophomore forward Cassidy Imperial-Pham is another key returner who had three assists last season to go with a goal. In all, CSUN returns six players that had at least one point in 2022.

Defenders Angelica Claiborne and Ashly Torres and midfielders Brooke Mobeck and Jackie Victorio are also among the returning crop that started 10 or more times last season.

In goal, Hayden Mauldin has returned for her second season with the Matadors. Mauldin received Big West All-Freshman Team honors last season after accumulating 55 saves in 990 minutes.

Of the team's 15 newcomers, five are transfers with three coming from Division I schools. CSUN's 10 true freshmen feature three international players (Germany, Hungary and India) while six are from California schools and one is from Hawai'i.

LUCKY SEVEN
Ashley Cruz is the first Matador in school history to return for a seventh season in women's soccer. Cruz began her time at CSUN in 2017 but injuries over her first two seasons kept her from making her debut on the field until the 2019 season. Since then, Cruz has competed in 46 matches, making 28 starts while registering 12 points, four goals and four assists.

ARTEAGA ENTERS PRO RANKS
Graduating forward Cindy Arteaga joined the professional ranks in the offseason, signing with Club Universidad Nacional Femenil in Mexico. Arteaga had a banner senior season with CSUN last season, leading the team in goals with nine and points with 19. She received All-Big West First Team and All-West Region Third Team honors for the year as she wrapped up her career tied for eighth place on the school's career goals scored list with 12.

SERIES HISTORY
CSUN played California Baptist for the first time in women's soccer last season with the Matadors coming from behind for a 2-1 victory. Ashley Cruz scored the game winner, breaking a 1-1 tie in the second half.

The Matadors have never played Hope International in a women's soccer game.

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
The Lancers went 8-5-5 last season with a 5-3-3 record in WAC play. CBU has returned a pair of All-WAC players in Lourdes Bosch and Taylor Summit. Bosch, a first-team all-conference selection, led the team with seven goals and five assists in 2022 while Summit, a second team honoree, played the second-most minutes on the team. Head coach Kristen St. Clair is in her 17th leading the program.

SCOUTING HOPE INTERNATIONAL
Hope International, which competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, finished 9-7-2 overall with a 3-4-1 conference mark in 2022. The Royals have returned two that earned all-conference honors last season including Sarah Ralston who led the team with 10 goals. Another all-conference selection, Ryley Candelario had five goals and five assists for HIU. Head coach Scott Dement enters his fourth season leading the Royals.

#GoMatadors