CSUN Draws with UCLA, 1-1, to Close Exhibition Play

Saturday, August 17

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

UCLA

Photo by: Connor Clark

CSUN Draws with UCLA, 1-1, to Close Exhibition Play

8/17/2024 9:33:00 PM | Men's Soccer

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Soccer played to a 1-1 draw with UCLA in an exhibition match on Saturday at Matador Soccer Field. Odin Rosten scored a go-ahead goal in the 81st minute for the Matadors, but the Bruins answered with the equalizer with 2:12 remaining to ensure the tie.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The two sides played to a standstill for nearly the full 90 minutes in the match. The Matadors had a 4-3 edge in shots in the first half with three of CSUN's shots reaching the frame. Marley Edwards had both of his shot attempts in the opening stanza including a shot on goal in the 23rd minute. David Garcia and Michael Blevins had the other two CSUN shots saved by goalkeeper Wyatt Nelson. On the flip side, goalkeeper Merrick Cook stuffed a shot from Sveinn Hauksson in the 26th minute.

In the second half, Cook made another save in the 51st minute before Dorian Drucks took over goalkeeping duties at the 60:20 mark of the match. UCLA held a 6-5 edge in shots in the second period, but it would be the Matadors who finally broke the scoreless tie late in the match. After Drucks made a save at the net, the Matadors gained possession through the middle of the field when Eyifehn Forfor broke through the backline of UCLA. Forfor went one on one against UCLA's goalkeeper Sam Joseph and took a shot at the net. Joseph was able to deflect the shot attempt, but Rosten cleaned up the play with a second shot that struck the net for a 1-0 CSUN lead.

The Bruins pressed in the final minutes looking for the equalizer. UCLA's pressure finally resulted in a scoring chance when Oshea Foster made a drive up the right side before delivering a cross to the middle of the box. Amjot Narang finished the play in front of the net to tie the game in the 88th minute. In the closing moments of the match, neither side could produce a shot attempt as the game finished as a draw.

NOTES OF THE GAME

Each side had nine shots in the match with CSUN posting five shots on goal compared to UCLA's three.
A total of nine corner kicks were earned in the contest with the Bruins posting six.
Cook had two saves in 60-plus minutes in goal while Drucks recorded one.
On defense, Jake Shaked and Siddiq Lezzar played the full 90 minutes.
CSUN closes exhibition play at 2-0-1.

UP NEXT
CSUN opens the 2024 season on Thursday eventing hosting No. 18 James Madison at 7:30 p.m. at Matador Soccer Field.

#GoMatadors