CSUN's Unbeaten Streak Snapped at UCSB

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer secured a postseason spot in the 2025 Big West Championship, but the Matadors fell for the first time in Big West play by a 2-0 score on Thursday night at Harder Stadium. The Gauchos ended the Matadors' seven-game shutout streak in the ninth minute of play before holding off late Matador scoring attacks in the final minutes.

Despite the result, CSUN has secured a spot in the six-team Big West Championship for the first time since 2019.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN would be the aggressor in the opening minutes of game as the Matadors picked up shots from Lia Peterson, Yoshi Rubalcava and Jordyn Canister. Arguably controlling the pace of the match in the early going, CSUN conceded the game's first goal moments later. On a shot from several yards above the box, Olivia Howard bent the ball inside the far post and outside the reach of a diving Riley Liebsack for a UCSB 1-0 lead in the ninth minute. From there, the Gauchos took control and tested the Matador net for the remainder of the half. Liebsack would record a save on a shot from Mya Delaney shortly after the goal while she withstood three corner kicks and a Caitlyn Simons shot that hit the crossbar in the ensuing minutes. Natalie Sheffey later just missed the net with a shot from the right that banged off the left far post. Shortly thereafter, Liebsack stopped a second attempt from Sheffey to keep the score 1-0 at intermission.

In the early minutes of the second half, UCSB earned three consecutive corner kicks before finding the net once more. With the ball sent into the box, Delaney set up Emma Corcoran at the middle of the box. A right-footed shot from Corcoran would tag the Matador net giving the Gauchos a 2-0 lead in the 56th minute. Looking up a two-goal deficit, the Matadors battled down the stretch of the game, nearly putting away several shot attempts. Canister put a shot on frame in the 70th minute and Cailey Jackson had her shot saved on a low shot at the left post. After Canister was just off target from the left wing, she gained another quality look after a CSUN corner kick, but that attempt went high. Paige Califf took the Matadors' last shot of the night in the 89th minute, but it was turned away by goalkeeper Maddie Buckley.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN drops to 7-7-3 overall and 5-1-2 in Big West play while UC Santa Barbara improves to 11-3-4 overall and 4-1-3 in conference.
The loss drops CSUN to second place jn the Big West standings at 17 points with Cal Poly, a winner on Thursday, moving to first place at 19 points.
The teams finished with 15 shots each while UCSB had a 8-6 edge in shots on goal. The Matadors led the shot count in the second half, 8-3.
UCSB held a 11-4 lead in corner kicks.
A total of 10 fouls were called with UCSB whistled for six and CSUN for four.
Liebsack had two saves in front of the goal.
Both Peterson and Canister had four shots each to lead CSUN.
The Matadors surrendered their first goal since Sept. 11 against Sacramento State, a span of 15 halves.

UP NEXT
CSUN visits Cal Poly in a Big West showdown with first place on the line on Sunday. Kickoff is set for noon on ESPN+.

#GoMatadors

CSUN's Unbeaten Streak Snapped at UCSB

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Team Stats

Lia Peterson

Jordyn Canister

Paige Califf

Cailey Jackson

Players Mentioned

Paige Califf

Jordyn Canister

Cailey Jackson

Riley Liebsack

Lia Peterson

Yoshi Rubalcava