Thursday, October 31
Davis, Calif.
3:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
at
UC Davis
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Looks to Secure Big West Postseason Spot at UC Davis
10/30/2024 11:20:00 AM | Women's Soccer
GAME NOTES
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer aims to clinch a postseason spot when it travels to UC Davis on Thursday afternoon in the 2024 regular season finale. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
FOR STARTERS
The Matadors (5-10-3, 3-3-3 Big West) head into the final day of the regular season a win away from clinching a berth into the 2024 Big West Championship. Three teams have already secured a postseason spot with the final three spots up for grabs on Thursday. The Matadors need a win to clinch a tournament bid while a tie or a loss eliminates them from postseason contention. CSUN currently is seventh in the Big West standings, one point back of the top six.
Hawai'i clinched the No. 1 seed in the Big West Championship, securing home field advantage for the semifinal and the championship rounds while UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara have also clinched postseason spots. Other teams looking to clinch are Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Bakersfield, which are currently tied at 14 points along with UC Irvine at 13 points, just one point ahead of CSUN. Long Beach State, which is eighth in the league, still remains alive for the postseason at 11 points.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN picked up three crucial points in its only match last week, stunning Cal State Bakersfield with a 2-1 road win. The Matadors handed the 'Runners their first home loss in conference play as Cailey Jackson hit the game winner in the 87th minute off a pass from Samantha Healy. Earlier in the match, Cassidy Imperial-Pham headed in her first goal of the season following a volley from Ashly Torres. CSUN's defense stood tall in the second half, holding the 'Runners scoreless with Riley Liebsack producing four saves. Angelica Claiborne also came up big with a key team save in the 88th minute to help secure the victory.
CSUN RESURGENCE
Under the direction of first-year head coach Gina Brewer, the Matadors have postseason aspirations entering the final day of the regular season. CSUN has already posted their most wins since the 2019 season, improving their win total by four games from last year. With a win on Thursday, the Matadors would punch their ticket to the Big West Championship for the first time since 2019 when they played in the finals. Prior to the season, CSUN was not only predicted to miss the conference tournament, but the Matadors were picked to finish last by the conference's head coaches.
MATADOR LEADERS
Junior Yoshi Rubalcava remains the CSUN leader in goals with five this season including four tallies in Big West play. Rubalcava also tops the Matadors in points with a career-best 12 on the year. After scoring last Thursday, junior Cailey Jackson is right behind Rubalcava at four goals to go with 10 points. Seven total Matador have hit the net this season as the team's 15 goals this season are the program's most since 2021. In the assists department, Ashly Torres dished out her team-best third assist as well last week. In goal, junior Riley Liebsack has seen every minute on the field, totaling a Big West-leading 95 saves with 1.39 goals-against-average and three shutouts. Senior Angelica Claiborne has racked up the most minutes among the field players at 1,596.
CSUN IN BIG WEST PLAY
The Matadors have turned up their play during the Big West season as CSUN has scored 10 of its 15 goals against league opponents. The Matadors are averaging 1.11 goals per game through nine Big West matches. On the defensive side, CSUN has lowered its goals-against-average to 1.11 as the team averages a 1.39 GAA on the season. Two of the team's three shutouts have also come in conference action. Overall, CSUN has already registered 12 points in conference play, which are the most for the program since 2019.
SCOUTING UC DAVIS
The Aggies sport a 12-4-2 overall record and 5-2-2 conference mark. UC Davis could lock up a No. 2 seed with a win or tie against CSUN or a Cal State Bakersfield tie or loss on Thursday. The team is undefeated over its last six matches and comes in with a 5-3-1 record at Aggie Soccer Field this season. Prior to the season, the Aggies were picked to finish fifth in the Big West standings. The Aggies are the top scoring team in the Big West, registering a conference-best 36 goals, 34 assists and 106 points while they are second in the league with seven shutouts. Genavieve Fontes leads the Big West with 10 goals followed by second place Sam Tristan at nine goals. Caeley Goldstein, the reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Week, sports a 1.17 GAA with 85 saves and seven shutouts.
Series History: CSUN leads UC Davis in the all-time series 8-7-5, but the Matadors are winless over their last eight matches in the series. The teams have played to draws over the last two seasons including a 0-0 tie last season at Matador Soccer Field. CSUN's last win in the series was a 4-0 win during the 2014 season.
#GoMatadors
Â
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer aims to clinch a postseason spot when it travels to UC Davis on Thursday afternoon in the 2024 regular season finale. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
FOR STARTERS
The Matadors (5-10-3, 3-3-3 Big West) head into the final day of the regular season a win away from clinching a berth into the 2024 Big West Championship. Three teams have already secured a postseason spot with the final three spots up for grabs on Thursday. The Matadors need a win to clinch a tournament bid while a tie or a loss eliminates them from postseason contention. CSUN currently is seventh in the Big West standings, one point back of the top six.
Hawai'i clinched the No. 1 seed in the Big West Championship, securing home field advantage for the semifinal and the championship rounds while UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara have also clinched postseason spots. Other teams looking to clinch are Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Bakersfield, which are currently tied at 14 points along with UC Irvine at 13 points, just one point ahead of CSUN. Long Beach State, which is eighth in the league, still remains alive for the postseason at 11 points.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN picked up three crucial points in its only match last week, stunning Cal State Bakersfield with a 2-1 road win. The Matadors handed the 'Runners their first home loss in conference play as Cailey Jackson hit the game winner in the 87th minute off a pass from Samantha Healy. Earlier in the match, Cassidy Imperial-Pham headed in her first goal of the season following a volley from Ashly Torres. CSUN's defense stood tall in the second half, holding the 'Runners scoreless with Riley Liebsack producing four saves. Angelica Claiborne also came up big with a key team save in the 88th minute to help secure the victory.
CSUN RESURGENCE
Under the direction of first-year head coach Gina Brewer, the Matadors have postseason aspirations entering the final day of the regular season. CSUN has already posted their most wins since the 2019 season, improving their win total by four games from last year. With a win on Thursday, the Matadors would punch their ticket to the Big West Championship for the first time since 2019 when they played in the finals. Prior to the season, CSUN was not only predicted to miss the conference tournament, but the Matadors were picked to finish last by the conference's head coaches.
MATADOR LEADERS
Junior Yoshi Rubalcava remains the CSUN leader in goals with five this season including four tallies in Big West play. Rubalcava also tops the Matadors in points with a career-best 12 on the year. After scoring last Thursday, junior Cailey Jackson is right behind Rubalcava at four goals to go with 10 points. Seven total Matador have hit the net this season as the team's 15 goals this season are the program's most since 2021. In the assists department, Ashly Torres dished out her team-best third assist as well last week. In goal, junior Riley Liebsack has seen every minute on the field, totaling a Big West-leading 95 saves with 1.39 goals-against-average and three shutouts. Senior Angelica Claiborne has racked up the most minutes among the field players at 1,596.
CSUN IN BIG WEST PLAY
The Matadors have turned up their play during the Big West season as CSUN has scored 10 of its 15 goals against league opponents. The Matadors are averaging 1.11 goals per game through nine Big West matches. On the defensive side, CSUN has lowered its goals-against-average to 1.11 as the team averages a 1.39 GAA on the season. Two of the team's three shutouts have also come in conference action. Overall, CSUN has already registered 12 points in conference play, which are the most for the program since 2019.
SCOUTING UC DAVIS
The Aggies sport a 12-4-2 overall record and 5-2-2 conference mark. UC Davis could lock up a No. 2 seed with a win or tie against CSUN or a Cal State Bakersfield tie or loss on Thursday. The team is undefeated over its last six matches and comes in with a 5-3-1 record at Aggie Soccer Field this season. Prior to the season, the Aggies were picked to finish fifth in the Big West standings. The Aggies are the top scoring team in the Big West, registering a conference-best 36 goals, 34 assists and 106 points while they are second in the league with seven shutouts. Genavieve Fontes leads the Big West with 10 goals followed by second place Sam Tristan at nine goals. Caeley Goldstein, the reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Week, sports a 1.17 GAA with 85 saves and seven shutouts.
Series History: CSUN leads UC Davis in the all-time series 8-7-5, but the Matadors are winless over their last eight matches in the series. The teams have played to draws over the last two seasons including a 0-0 tie last season at Matador Soccer Field. CSUN's last win in the series was a 4-0 win during the 2014 season.
#GoMatadors
Â
Players Mentioned
MF/D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F/MF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF/D
/ Women's SoccerA Conversation With Keith West v2
Tuesday, May 19
A Conversation With Keith West
Tuesday, May 19
Interview With Lindsay Kutscher
Monday, August 05
Women's Soccer vs. UNLV
Thursday, August 30