CSUN Falls to CSU Bakersfield, 1-0 in Big West Home Opener

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Despite generating 12 shots and five on target, the CSUN men's soccer team was held scoreless in a 1-0 loss to CSU Bakersfield on Saturday night at Matador Soccer Field.

The decisive moment came in the 50th minute, when CSU Bakersfield's Oshea Foster broke free on a long ball from Jackson Mpawenayo and finished a one-on-one chance past CSUN goalkeeper Dorian Drucks from the left side of the box. Drucks had to come off his line and protect the front of the box, which left a bigger target for the Roadrunners. It was Foster's second goal of the season.

CSUN (6-2-3, 1-1-0 Big West) controlled much of the possession, holding 55% of the ball and outshooting the Roadrunners 12-7, but Matador attempts were repeatedly denied by CSU Bakersfield goalkeeper Zenden Hart, who tallied five saves.

This match was physical from the start, as Bakersfield committed 24 fouls to CSUN's eight. A combined five yellow cards were used.

CSUN led all of the stats and had some good looks, but just couldn't find the net. The Matadors didn't take advantage of opportunities.

The Matadors had several close chances to equalize. In the 26th minute, Jorge Solorzano forced Hart into a diving save from just outside the 18-yard box. Five minutes later, a sequence of shots tested the Roadrunners' defense, as Siddiq Lezzar's low strike was stopped and Zack Harris' follow-up was also saved. Enrique Pineda narrowly missed on two attempts before halftime, including a drive that sailed just high in the 44th minute
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In the second half, Harris again came close in the 52nd minute with a shot from inside the box, but Hart stretched to his right for another save. Seydou Diop had a shot blocked in the 55th minute, and Lezzar nearly netted the equalizer in the final moments, but his 90th-minute attempt was smothered by Hart.

CSU Bakersfield managed to withstand the Matadors' late pressure. Nathan Jimenez was active for the Roadrunners with three shot attempts, including two that were blocked in the second half, while Filip Arras sent a dangerous header over the bar in the 62nd minute.

CSUN suffers its first loss in Big West play after an earlier week win at UC Riverside.

NOTES OF THE GAME

Lezzar and Harris each had two shots on goal.
Jack Shaked, Drucks, Lezzar and Harris played the full 90 minutes.
Pineda had four shots total.
CSUN had four corner kicks to Bakersfield's one.
Drucks allowed his only goal of the week to Bakersfield in the defeat.

ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH TERRY DAVILA
"The difference in tonight's game I thought was that they out competed us since the start of the game. I thought they won a lot of 50-50 balls, more than we did. You gotta tip your cap to them. We're gonna bounce back and realize how important these Big West matches are. We weren't as sharp tonight as we would like to be. We didn't create enough scoring opportunities. It made it a difficult game for us."

UP NEXT
CSUN stays home to take on Sacramento State, Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Ghizal Hasan and Gio Galvez on the call.

CSUN Falls to CSU Bakersfield, 1-0 in Big West Home Opener

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Team Stats

Enrique Pineda

Siddiq Lezzar

Zack Harris

Seydou Diop

Players Mentioned

Dorian Drucks

Zack Harris

Siddiq Lezzar

Enrique Pineda

Jorge Solorzano