CSUN Faces UC Davis, CSUB in Big West Action This Week

GAME NOTES

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Soccer seeks its first conference win when the Matadors play week two of the Big West season this week. The Matadors host UC Davis on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. before traveling to Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday at 7 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.

FOR STARTERS
CSUN opened Big West play last week, going 0-1-1 in the first two matches of the conference season. The Matadors sit at 2-4-4 overall on the year. After a week of conference action, the Matadors are tied with UC Riverside in eighth place at one point each. Four conference teams are tied for the conference lead with four points each, which include Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Fullerton, UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly.

ABOUT LAST WEEK
The Matadors hosted the 2024 Big West opener against UC Riverside on Thursday, playing to a 1-1 draw. CSUN jumped in front with a goal from Michael Blevins, assisted by Arturo Reveles. The lead would stand for 66 minutes until the Highlanders found the equalizer in the 75th minute. Despite outshooting UCR 10-3 in the second half and holding a 14-13 edge for the match, CSUN could not secure the game winner down the stretch and settled for the tie. Merrick Cook finished with four saves for CSUN, all of which in the first half.

The Matadors dropped a tough 1-0 decision at UC San Diego on Saturday night to close the week of action. The only tally of the game came in the 16th minute for UCSD. CSUN produced 19 shots in the match compared to just six for UC San Diego, but the Matadors were unable to find the equalizer. Eyifehn Forfor appeared to find the net in the second half, but the goal was waived off on an offside call. Boniface Fatohou also had one of the closest calls late in the match, hitting the left post.

MATADOR LEADERS
After scoring last Thursday versus UC Riverside, sophomore Michael Blevins has moved into the team lead along with ninth place in the Big West in goals with three. Blevins has scored in three of the last four matches while he tops the team with seven points. Sophomores Deryk Jones, Jr. and Jorge Solorzano each have two goals with Jones recording six points to place second on the team. Solorzano tops the Matadors and ranks eighth in the conference with 22 shots. On the defensive side, sophomore Merrick Cook remains third in the Big West in shutouts (3) while he ranks fourth in goals-against-average (1.30) and saves (35).

RANKINGS IN THE BIG WEST
The Matadors remain near the top in shots taken with 135, good enough for third place in the Big West while they are second in corner kicks (55). Overall, CSUN is eighth in the league in goals scored with 11. CSUN is still in the top half of the conference in several defensive categories including third in shutouts (2) and fourth in goals-against-average (1.30) and saves (38).

WE PLAY CLOSE GAMES HERE
CSUN is no stranger to nail biters this season. In fact, all 10 of the Matador matches this season have concluded in either a one-goal decision or in a draw. Overall, CSUN holds a 2-4 record in one-goal matches on the year dropping its last two such decisions. In addition to the six decisions on the year, CSUN has played in four draws, two of which being scoreless draws. Going back to last season, CSUN's last 16 games have finished as a draw or by a one-goal outcome.

SCOUTING UC DAVIS
The Aggies are 4-4-3 overall and seeking their first Big West win (0-2). In last week's action, UC Davis dropped a pair of home 1-0 decisions to Cal Poly and UC Irvine. Prior to the season, the Aggies were picked to finish fourth in the Big West in 2024. The team enters play this week tied for third in the Big West in goals scored with 15. Cason Goodman is currently tied for fourth in the conference in goals with five while he has 11 total points. Keegan Walwyn-Bent is right behind Goodman with four goals and nine points. In goal, Noah Schwengeler tops the team with 18 saves to go with a 1.42 GAA and one shutout.

Series History: UC Davis leads CSUN 13-9-6 in the all-time series. A season ago, the teams played to a 1-1 draw in Davis. Prior to last season's match, CSUN snapped a four-game skid in the series with a 3-2 win in a 2022 Big West first round match at Matador Soccer Field. Four of the last five decisions in the series have been decided by one goal each.

SCOUTING CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD
The Roadrunners hold a 4-2-3 overall record with a 1-0-1 Big West mark. CSUB opened Big West play with a 3-0 victory over Sacramento State before battling Cal State Fullerton to a 2-2 draw. Prior to facing CSUN, the 'Runners face ranked UC Santa Barbara in Bakersfield on Wednesday. Currently atop the conference standings, CSUB was picked to finish ninth in the Big West by the league's head coaches before the season. As a team, CSUB is fifth in the Big West with 15 goals scored. Connor Mautino tops the team and ranks second in the Big West in goals with seven to go with 15 points. Joey Velasquez has three goals and six points as well for CSUB. In goal, Zenden Hart has registered a 1.26 GAA with 28 saves and two shutouts.

Series History: The Matadors have gone 25-2-2 against Cal State Bakersfield, but the Roadrunners have picked up two wins over the last three meetings. Last season, CSUB shutout CSUN 1-0 at Matador Soccer Field. The Matadors look to stay unbeaten in Bakersfield as CSUN has a 13-0-1 all-time record on the road in the series.

#GoMatadors

CSUN Faces UC Davis, CSUB in Big West Action This Week

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Players Mentioned

Michael Blevins

Merrick Cook

Boniface Fatohou

Eyifehn Forfor

Deryk Jones, Jr.

Arturo Reveles

Jorge Solorzano