Thursday, October 24
Bakersfield, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
at
Cal State Bakersfield
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Travels to Cal State Bakersfield in Pivotal Big West Match
10/23/2024 2:53:00 PM | Women's Soccer
GAME NOTES
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer looks to keep its postseason hopes alive when it travels to Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday evening. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
FOR STARTERS
CSUN (4-10-3, 2-3-3 Big West) is very much alive in the Big West Championship postseason race entering play this week. The Matadors have two games left on their schedule, both of which on the road, with the regular season set to conclude on Oct. 31. At the moment, CSUN sits at nine points in the Big West standings, two points back of the top six that would qualify for the 2024 Big West Championship. In addition, the Matadors are only three points back of the top four in the conference, a position that guarantees home field advantage in the first round. Thus far, Hawai'i is the only team to clinch a spot in the postseason as the Rainbow Wahine lead the league at 19 points. UC Santa Barbara is second with 16 points followed by Cal State Bakersfield in third (14 points), UC Irvine in fourth (12 points), UC Davis and Cal State Fullerton in fifth (11 points each) and Long Beach State in seventh (10). CSUN wraps up the 2024 regular season at UC Davis on Oct. 31.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
The Matadors picked up a point in the Big West standings after a 0-1-1 week. CSUN dropped a 2-0 decision to Cal Poly last Thursday at Matador Soccer Field. The Mustangs scored a goal in each half of the match while the Matadors produced eight shots on goal but could not find the back of the net in the contest.
CSUN would bounce back with a spirited effort against UC Santa Barbara in a 0-0 draw on Senior Night last Sunday at Matador Soccer Field. The Gauchos outshot the Matadors 11-3 in the match, but the CSUN defense would not fold in the match. Goalkeeper Riley Liebsack totaled five saves including four in the second half while the CSUN defense notched the team's third shutout of the season.
MATADOR LEADERS
Junior Yoshi Rubalcava remains the CSUN leader in goals with five including four tallies in Big West play. Rubalcaba also tops the Matadors in points with a career-high 12 this season whole she shares the team lead in assists with senior Ashly Torres and junior Cailey Jackson at two apiece. Jackson is just behind Rubalcava in the goals and points departments with three and 10, respectively. Goalkeeper Riley Liebsack has seen every minute in goal this season, totaling a Big West-leading 91 saves to go with a 1.41 goals-against-average. Among the team's field players, senior Angelica Claiborne has racked up a team-high 1,506 minutes on the backline.
CSUN IN BIG WEST PLAY
The Matadors have turned up their play during the Big West season. CSUN has scored eight of its 13 goals against Big West opponents, good enough for a 1.00 goals per game average. On the defensive side, has lowered its goals-against-average to 1.13 in conference play as the team averages 1.41 on the season. Two of the team's three shutouts have also come in conference action. The team has already produced nine points in conference play, which are the most for the program since the 2019 season.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
CSUN has now played in 12 total matches this season that have finished in either a draw or by a one-goal outcome. Overall, the Matadors have gone 3-6 in one-goal matches on the year but have won two of three in Big West play. CSUN's defense has been strong in recent matches, limiting the opposition to nine goals through eight Big West matches. Overall, the Matadors have allowed 11 goals over their last 10 games after giving up 13 over their first seven matches to start 2024.
SCOUTING CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD
The 'Runners come in with a 6-9-3 overall record and 4-2-2 Big West record. Bakersfield played to a 1-1 tie with UC Santa Barbara and defeated Cal Poly 2-0 in last week's matches to move to third place in the Big West standings. Prior to the season, the 'Runners were picked to finish ninth in the league. CSUB has done most of its damage at home this season, posting a 4-1-3 record including going 2-0-2 in Big West play. As a team, CSUB is ranked third in the Big West in total goals at 21 with the duo of Karen Flores and Kim Garcia at four goals apiece. In goal, Hollee Hercik tops the team with a 1.35 GAA along with 45 saves and two shutouts.
Series History: CSUN leads Bakersfield 6-3-1 in the all-times series after the Matadors claimed a 4-0 victory at home last season. Cal State Bakersfield had won the previous two meetings in the series. The Matadors look to avenge a 3-1 loss in their last trip to Bakersfield two seasons ago.
#GoMatadors
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NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer looks to keep its postseason hopes alive when it travels to Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday evening. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
FOR STARTERS
CSUN (4-10-3, 2-3-3 Big West) is very much alive in the Big West Championship postseason race entering play this week. The Matadors have two games left on their schedule, both of which on the road, with the regular season set to conclude on Oct. 31. At the moment, CSUN sits at nine points in the Big West standings, two points back of the top six that would qualify for the 2024 Big West Championship. In addition, the Matadors are only three points back of the top four in the conference, a position that guarantees home field advantage in the first round. Thus far, Hawai'i is the only team to clinch a spot in the postseason as the Rainbow Wahine lead the league at 19 points. UC Santa Barbara is second with 16 points followed by Cal State Bakersfield in third (14 points), UC Irvine in fourth (12 points), UC Davis and Cal State Fullerton in fifth (11 points each) and Long Beach State in seventh (10). CSUN wraps up the 2024 regular season at UC Davis on Oct. 31.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
The Matadors picked up a point in the Big West standings after a 0-1-1 week. CSUN dropped a 2-0 decision to Cal Poly last Thursday at Matador Soccer Field. The Mustangs scored a goal in each half of the match while the Matadors produced eight shots on goal but could not find the back of the net in the contest.
CSUN would bounce back with a spirited effort against UC Santa Barbara in a 0-0 draw on Senior Night last Sunday at Matador Soccer Field. The Gauchos outshot the Matadors 11-3 in the match, but the CSUN defense would not fold in the match. Goalkeeper Riley Liebsack totaled five saves including four in the second half while the CSUN defense notched the team's third shutout of the season.
MATADOR LEADERS
Junior Yoshi Rubalcava remains the CSUN leader in goals with five including four tallies in Big West play. Rubalcaba also tops the Matadors in points with a career-high 12 this season whole she shares the team lead in assists with senior Ashly Torres and junior Cailey Jackson at two apiece. Jackson is just behind Rubalcava in the goals and points departments with three and 10, respectively. Goalkeeper Riley Liebsack has seen every minute in goal this season, totaling a Big West-leading 91 saves to go with a 1.41 goals-against-average. Among the team's field players, senior Angelica Claiborne has racked up a team-high 1,506 minutes on the backline.
CSUN IN BIG WEST PLAY
The Matadors have turned up their play during the Big West season. CSUN has scored eight of its 13 goals against Big West opponents, good enough for a 1.00 goals per game average. On the defensive side, has lowered its goals-against-average to 1.13 in conference play as the team averages 1.41 on the season. Two of the team's three shutouts have also come in conference action. The team has already produced nine points in conference play, which are the most for the program since the 2019 season.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
CSUN has now played in 12 total matches this season that have finished in either a draw or by a one-goal outcome. Overall, the Matadors have gone 3-6 in one-goal matches on the year but have won two of three in Big West play. CSUN's defense has been strong in recent matches, limiting the opposition to nine goals through eight Big West matches. Overall, the Matadors have allowed 11 goals over their last 10 games after giving up 13 over their first seven matches to start 2024.
SCOUTING CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD
The 'Runners come in with a 6-9-3 overall record and 4-2-2 Big West record. Bakersfield played to a 1-1 tie with UC Santa Barbara and defeated Cal Poly 2-0 in last week's matches to move to third place in the Big West standings. Prior to the season, the 'Runners were picked to finish ninth in the league. CSUB has done most of its damage at home this season, posting a 4-1-3 record including going 2-0-2 in Big West play. As a team, CSUB is ranked third in the Big West in total goals at 21 with the duo of Karen Flores and Kim Garcia at four goals apiece. In goal, Hollee Hercik tops the team with a 1.35 GAA along with 45 saves and two shutouts.
Series History: CSUN leads Bakersfield 6-3-1 in the all-times series after the Matadors claimed a 4-0 victory at home last season. Cal State Bakersfield had won the previous two meetings in the series. The Matadors look to avenge a 3-1 loss in their last trip to Bakersfield two seasons ago.
#GoMatadors
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Players Mentioned
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