CSUN Sets New School Record for Consecutive Shutouts, Defeats UC Davis 1-0

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer stayed unbeaten in Big West play and set a school record in consecutive shutouts in a 1-0 win over UC Davis on Sunday at Matador Soccer Field. Sophomore Yasmin Azar scored the game winner and her third goal overall on the season while senior goalkeeper Riley Liebsack had three saves in securing her ninth shutout on the campaign.

The Matadors remained in first place in the Big West standings with the victory at 17 points with three matches left to play. CSUN also notched its first win over UC Davis since the 2014 season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN attacked the UC Davis net in the early going, generating three shots over the first 10 minutes. Liebsack made her first save of the match in the 19th minute, off the foot of Karla Sandoval, while she stopped another in the 21st minute on an attempt from Sydney Bushman. The game would be back and forth until the 30th minute of play when CSUN finally broke through. Cailey Jackson set up the scoring chance by dribbling the ball down the right of the box where she had her shot blocked. The ball deflected to Ariah Velazquez who then sent a cross to the far post. Azar finished the play with a right-footed shot that tagged the net for a 1-0 lead. The Matadors held the Aggies to one shot over the remaining minutes of the first half to lead at the break.

The Aggies nearly evened the match in the opening minute of the second period when Summer Humphreys sent a shot that banged off the top crossbar. After surviving that shot, Liebsack would make her fourth save of the night in the 52nd by stopping an attack from Sarah Caravan. CSUN would take control after the early chances from the Aggies, posting a barrage of shots beginning in the 52nd minute. Jackson had her shot saved on a shot from inside the box while two Matador shots were blocked and Paige Califf was just off target during that stretch. The Matadors would post 10 shots in the second half in helping limit the Aggies from finding the equalizer. UC Davis' final attempt would come in the 85th minute as McKayla Farrell missed wide.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN improves to 7-6-3 overall and 5-0-2 in Big West play while UC Davis slips to 2-11-4 overall and 0-7-1 in conference.
The Matadors led the shot count 17-9 including 5-4 in shots on goal.
CSUN also led 3-2 in corner kicks.
A total of 17 fouls were called in the match with UC Davis whistled for 10 and CSUN for seven.
The Matadors surpassed the school record of six straight shutouts set by the 2016 team.
Azar's third goal of the season puts her second on the team in scoring this season. Velazquez, who assisted the goal, notched her first career point on the play.
Liebsack's shutout was her 12th overall as a Matador, moving her into a fourth all-time in career shutouts in school history.
Califf, Siena Navarra, Sydney Lipkin, Alex Valente and Michelle Monroy played the full 90 minutes for CSUN.

ACCORDING TO COACH GINA BREWER
"We knew this was gong to be our toughest game in a stretch of so many games in a row and with having to come back from playing at Hawai'i on Thursday. We really tried to prepare them to the best of our ability, mentality and physically, dealing with fatigue and trying to be able to overcome it. I'm really proud of their effort. I think they gave us everything they got even when they were struggling a little bit and feeling the tired legs. They were able to push through.

"One of the things we talk about is giving a full team effort. What we mean by that is whether they're a starter or what we call a game changer, the players that come off the bench to help affect. So, Ariah got the assist and Yas had the goal, those were two players that were game changers for us. They came off the bench and impacted in a positive way. We've always talked about a full team effort and owning your roles, no matter what that role is and helping the team. Again, so proud that they have embraced what we've asked them to do and have come together as a full team."

UP NEXT
CSUN will hit the road next week to face UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, Oct. 19. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

#GoMatadors

CSUN Sets New School Record for Consecutive Shutouts, Defeats UC Davis 1-0

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Team Stats

Yasmin Azar

Ariah Velazquez

Yoshi Rubalcava

Cailey Jackson

Players Mentioned

Yasmin Azar

Paige Califf

Cailey Jackson

Riley Liebsack

Sydney Lipkin

Michelle Monroy

Siena Navarra

Alex Valente

Ariah Velazquez