CSUN Travels to Seattle U to Close Non-Conference Play

GAME NOTES

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Men's Soccer concludes non-conference play on Friday night with a road test against Seattle U. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN played just once last week with the Matadors picking up a 2-1 victory over Santa Clara on Sunday at Matador Soccer Field. The win was CSUN's first at home this season and evened the team's overall record to 2-2-3. The Matadors broke through early in the contest, scoring on a 13th-minute goal from Michael Blevins after passes from Zion Wagoner and Deryk Jones, Jr. Less than 13 minutes later, CSUN struck again, this time scoring shortly after a corner kick. Zack Harris and Jorge Solorzano set up Jake Shaked for a header at the net to put CSUN on top 2-0. Santa Clara fought back with a 45th minute goal to cut the lead in half, but CSUN's defense held firm the rest of the way. Goalkeeper Merrick Cook stopped a 64th-minute penalty kick to help ensure the victory.

BIG WEST SEASON ON THE HORIZON
After this week's match, CSUN will set its sights on Big West play beginning next week. The Matadors host UC Riverside in the 2024 Big West opener on Wednesday, Oct. 2 before returning to the road on Oct. 5 to face UC San Diego.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE
CSUN enters play this week tied for second in the Big West in team goals-against-average at a 1.00 clip. The Matadors has allowed just seven goals this season to go with two shutouts. Overall, the opposition has scored more than one goal in just one match this season. On the starting backline, newcomers Jake Shaked, Siddiq Lezzar and Deryk Jones, Jr. along with midfielder Robert Kaemmerer have helped anchor the Matador defense in the early going this season. In goal, Merrick Cook has also solidified himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the Big West thus far, posting the second-best GAA (1.00) and shutouts (2) to go with the fifth-most saves (24) in the conference.

MATADOR LEADERS
Jake Shaked and Michael Blevins became the latest Matadors to score goals this season. In all, six Matadors have hit the net on the year led by Jorge Solorzano with two. Solorzano also tops the team in points with five followed by Deryk Jones, Jr. and Marley Edwards with four each. In the shot department, Solorzano is also the team leader with 15 including five shots on goal. Shaked and Arturo Reveles each have one game winner apiece on the year.

SCOUTING SEATTLE U
The Redhawks have a 2-3-2 overall record after falling to third-ranked Denver 2-1 last Sunday. The team looks to snap a four-match winless streak when it takes on CSUN this week. Seattle U has played just two matches on at home on the year, posting a 1-1 record with its lone win coming against San Francisco (3-2). In 2023, Seattle U won the WAC regular season title and played in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In the 2024 Preseason Coaches Poll, Seattle U was picked to win the WAC again this season. Five players have scored multiple goals this season for Seattle U led by Titus Washington and Taketo Onodera with three goals apiece. Charlie Lanphier, the Preseason WAC Goalkeeper of the Year, sports a 1.71 GAA with 22 saves through seven matches.

Series History: CSUN has played Seattle U just twice in men's soccer with the Matadors picking up wins in each contest. However, the programs have not played since 2018 when CSUN won by a 2-1 score in overtime in Seattle.

#GoMatadors

CSUN Travels to Seattle U to Close Non-Conference Play

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Players Mentioned

Michael Blevins

Merrick Cook

Marley Edwards

Zack Harris

Deryk Jones, Jr.

Robert Kaemmerer

Siddiq Lezzar

Arturo Reveles

Jake Shaked

Jorge Solorzano

Zion Wagoner