Sunday, September 22
Northridge, Calif.
3:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
2-2-3, 0-0-0
2
vs
1
Santa Clara
3-4-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Santa Clara
0
1
1
CSUN
2
0
2
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Downs Santa Clara 2-1 to Get Back on Winning Track
9/22/2024 5:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Soccer got back into the win column with a 2-1 victory over Santa Clara on Sunday afternoon at Matador Soccer Field. Michael Blevins and Jake Shaked each scored their first career goals in a Matador uniform while goalkeeper Merrick Cook posted four saves including a timely stop on a penalty kick to help secure the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN struck first in the match, finding the back of the net in the 13th minute of action. Zion Wagoner started the scoring play with a long cross into the box toward the far post. From there, Deryk Jones, Jr. headed a pass to the middle where Blevins found room and scored on a left-footed shot to put the Matadors ahead 1-0. In the ensuing minutes, CSUN turned away a pair of corner kicks from Santa Clara and soon took advantage of a corner kick opportunity of its own to double the lead.
Shortly after the corner kick, Zack Harris delivered a pass to the right to Jorge Solorzano who crossed a long pass toward the middle of the box where Shaked finished the play with a header for a 2-0 lead.
The lead would remain at two goals despite a near chance from Santa Clara in the 32nd minute when Simon Diagana hit the crossbar. In the final minute of action, CSUN also nearly came away with another goal on a one on one with Matthiew Fiadjoe and goalkeeper Jack Stoecker. Fiadjoe traveled down the left wing and sent a high shot, but Stoecker was able to deflect the ball out of bounds.
After intermission, the Broncos wasted little time cutting the deficit with a goal just 56 seconds into the second half. Will Wiersdorf would break down the Matador defense with a series of dribbles through the middle of the box before finding the net from the right. Later in the half, the Broncos had an opportunity to hit the equalizer when a CSUN foul was committed in its own box in the 63rd minute. Wiersdorf took the penalty shot and looked to sneak the ball inside of the right post, but Cook made a stellar save going to his left to snuff the attempt and keep CSUN ahead.
Cook's continued to impress defensively down the stretch with three more saves including a stop off a free kick in the 89th minute. Santa Clara earned a corner kick with less than 20 seconds remaining leading to a header from Jack Civitts in a crowd deep in the box, but Zack Harris made the team save as time expired.
NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO COACH TERRY DAVILA
"We scored today. We've created opportunities [previously]. We figure just keep going forward with it, keep putting the ball in the box, keep trying to find the process and go with it. We really had one good half, and we didn't put the game away. They came back, but Merrick made a great save on a PK and saved a one on one. He made two big plays for us.
"We just have to stick to who we are. They rattled us a bit with that quick score [in the second half], but we stayed together and hung together to get the victory."
UP NEXT
CSUN concludes non-conference play on Friday, Sept. 27 with a road match at Seattle U. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN struck first in the match, finding the back of the net in the 13th minute of action. Zion Wagoner started the scoring play with a long cross into the box toward the far post. From there, Deryk Jones, Jr. headed a pass to the middle where Blevins found room and scored on a left-footed shot to put the Matadors ahead 1-0. In the ensuing minutes, CSUN turned away a pair of corner kicks from Santa Clara and soon took advantage of a corner kick opportunity of its own to double the lead.
MICHAEL BLEVINS.
— CSUN Men's Soccer (@CSUNMensSoccer) September 22, 2024
CSUN is on the board first with the 13th minute goal.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/6EkbYncMkS
Shortly after the corner kick, Zack Harris delivered a pass to the right to Jorge Solorzano who crossed a long pass toward the middle of the box where Shaked finished the play with a header for a 2-0 lead.
The brilliant ball from Solorzano.
— CSUN Men's Soccer (@CSUNMensSoccer) September 22, 2024
The header from Shaked.
2-0 CSUN in the 26th minute!#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/CvS9LH6yje
The lead would remain at two goals despite a near chance from Santa Clara in the 32nd minute when Simon Diagana hit the crossbar. In the final minute of action, CSUN also nearly came away with another goal on a one on one with Matthiew Fiadjoe and goalkeeper Jack Stoecker. Fiadjoe traveled down the left wing and sent a high shot, but Stoecker was able to deflect the ball out of bounds.
After intermission, the Broncos wasted little time cutting the deficit with a goal just 56 seconds into the second half. Will Wiersdorf would break down the Matador defense with a series of dribbles through the middle of the box before finding the net from the right. Later in the half, the Broncos had an opportunity to hit the equalizer when a CSUN foul was committed in its own box in the 63rd minute. Wiersdorf took the penalty shot and looked to sneak the ball inside of the right post, but Cook made a stellar save going to his left to snuff the attempt and keep CSUN ahead.
Let Merrick cook. ?????
— CSUN Men's Soccer (@CSUNMensSoccer) September 22, 2024
He comes up huge on the penalty kick to maintain CSUN's lead.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/nlq23rP1Mo
Cook's continued to impress defensively down the stretch with three more saves including a stop off a free kick in the 89th minute. Santa Clara earned a corner kick with less than 20 seconds remaining leading to a header from Jack Civitts in a crowd deep in the box, but Zack Harris made the team save as time expired.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN improves to 2-2-3 overall while Santa Clara slips to 3-4-1.
- The Broncos led the way in shots 11-9 including 6-3 in shots on goal.
- The teams combined for 13 corner kicks with CSUN holding a 7-6 edge.
- Blevins and Solorzano led the way with two shots each.
- Shaked and Siddiq Lezzar played the full 90 minutes on defense.
ACCORDING TO COACH TERRY DAVILA
"We scored today. We've created opportunities [previously]. We figure just keep going forward with it, keep putting the ball in the box, keep trying to find the process and go with it. We really had one good half, and we didn't put the game away. They came back, but Merrick made a great save on a PK and saved a one on one. He made two big plays for us.
"We just have to stick to who we are. They rattled us a bit with that quick score [in the second half], but we stayed together and hung together to get the victory."
UP NEXT
CSUN concludes non-conference play on Friday, Sept. 27 with a road match at Seattle U. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
SCU
CSUN
Goals
1
2
Shots
11
9
Shots on Goal
6
3
Saves
1
4
Corners
6
7
Fouls
15
18
Scoring Plays
Michael Blevins (1)
Assisted By: Deryk Jones, Jr. , Zion Wagoner
33 from right sidline, long kick to far post, 3 a pass to middle, 23 able to score past defender.
12:44
Jake Shaked (1)
Assisted By: Jorge Solorzano , Zack Harris
7 from right sideline, long kick to far post where 4 finishes on a header from 8 yards.
25:30
Will Wiersdorf (1)
17 takes the ball up the middle, dribbling past a few defenders before finishing from 8 yards on the right.
45:56
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
def
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerD
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerD
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's Soccer
F
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