CSUN Earns 1-1 Draw with UC Riverside in Big West Opener

Wednesday, October 2

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

2-3-4, 0-0-1

UC Riverside

2-4-2, 0-0-1

UC Riverside

CSUN

Photo by: Connor Clark

CSUN Earns 1-1 Draw with UC Riverside in Big West Opener

10/2/2024 9:33:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Soccer opened Big West play by battling to a 1-1 draw with UC Riverside on Wednesday evening at Matador Soccer Field. Sophomore Michael Blevins scored a goal for a third consecutive match for CSUN, but UCR found the equalizer in the 75th minute and held off the Matadors in the closing minutes.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UCR would generate three shots over the first seven-plus minutes of action as goalkeeper Merrick Cook made his first save in the eighth minute off a shot from Noah Lopez. Despite the early scoring chances for the opposition, CSUN would come away with the game's first goal in the just the ninth minute of play. The Matadors picked up a corner kick leading to the scoring chance with Jorge Solorzano sending the ball to middle of the box where UCR picked up a deflection. Arturo Reveles gained possession and sent a cross to the right post where Blevins finished the play.

ON THE BOARD FIRST! ??

Arturo Reveles finds Michael Blevins for the redirection and the 1-0 lead in the Big West opener.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/9FBPgYUIFh
— CSUN Men's Soccer (@CSUNMensSoccer) October 3, 2024

The Highlanders responded quickly with a pair of shots that were each saved by Cook. Moments later, Blevins looked for his second goal of the night when he put a shot on frame in the 14th minute, but goalkeeper Carlos Gonzalez was there for the save. In the first half, UCR led the way in shots 10-4, forcing Cook to make four total saves. Lukas Juodkunaitis had two late looks for the Highlanders with each missing wide.

In the second half, CSUN nearly came away with a second goal on several occasions as the Matadors looked to put the game away. Sebastian Fuentes made a run from the left side forcing Gonzalez out from his post before the UCR netminder made the save. In another close call, Siddiq Lezzar gained a look from the right side of the box inside a crowd, but his low shot was saved again by Gonzalez. Seemingly in control for most of the second half, the Matadors would concede the equalizer in the 75th minute off UCR's second shot of the period. On the play, Oscar Emilio Trujillo Lizarraga set up the goal with a cross to the far post where Wyattt Ponting waited and headed in the game-tying strike. The Matadors frantically looked for the go-ahead goal in the closing minutes leading to quality looks for Reveles, Zack Harris and Marley Edwards as well as three late corner kicks, but the game would end as a tie.

NOTES OF THE GAME

With the draw, CSUN's record stands at 2-3-4 overall and 0-0-1 in Big West play while UCR sits at 2-4-2 overall and 0-0-1 in conference.
The Matadors led the way in shots 14-13 while posting a 7-5 edge in shots on goal.
CSUN finished with nine corner kicks compared to five for UC Riverside.
Blevins has moved into the team lead in goals with three while he finished Wednesday with a team-high three shots.
In goal, Cook recorded four saves in the match.
The tandem of Jake Shaked, Lezzar, Harris and Reveles played the full 90 minutes.

ACCORDING TO COACH TERRY DAVILA
"We scored when they were playing better in the first half and then they scored when we were playing better. Soccer is a weird game. We didn't put away our chances. It's a common thing across the country, you want to create opportunities and we did. To give up a goal like that with 15 minutes in the game is tough. It's always disappointing to not get the three points but any Big West points are big points.

"We've just got to keep creating opportunities, hopefully they'll pop in. Last year we didn't create as many opportunities as we've done this year. You could be disappointed with the result, but you can't be disappointed with the chances you create."

UP NEXT
CSUN hits the road for the first time in Big West play as the Matadors visit UC San Diego on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

#GoMatadors