CSUN Hosts Utah Tech Before Visiting San Diego

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer wraps up its three-game homestand with a Thursday matchup with Utah Tech at 7 p.m. The Matadors then close up the week with a Sunday road trip to the University of San Diego with kickoff set for 5 p.m. on ESPN+.

FOR STARTERS
CSUN (1-2-1) looks to get back on the winning track as it closes a season-high three-game homestand with Utah Tech. After taking on the Trailblazers, CSUN will play its next three on the road beginning with San Diego this Sunday and continuing with a trip to Portland next week. The Matadors face Portland State on Sept. 4 and the University of Portland on Sept. 7 during next week's road stretch.

ABOUT LAST WEEK
The Matadors dropped a pair of 1-0 decisions last week to Grand Canyon and California Baptist at Matador Soccer Field.

GCU used a 55th minute goal to down CSUN in the 2025 home opener on Aug. 21. Senior Riley Liebsack had three saves in front of the net while senior Yoshi Rubalcava had four shots to lead the team. CSUN had a 6-4 lead in shots on goal but could not find the equalizer in the match.

Facing CBU this past Sunday, the Matadors fell behind in the 15th minute by the 1-0 score. CSUN would get nine shot attempts on the night with three on goal. Sophomore Jordyn Canister had three of the nine shots and Liebsack was strong again, providing five saves to help CSUN stay within striking distance throughout.

CSUN DEFENSE HOLDING FIRM
The Matador defense has been a bright spot in the early going in 2025. CSUN earned its first shutout of the season on Aug. 17 when the Matadors defeated San José State 1-0. In all, CSUN has allowed four goals through four matches with one goal or fewer in three of those contests. Senior goalkeeper Riley Liebsack has been a big part of that defensive success, amassing 14 saves on the season while playing all 360 minutes. On the Matador backline, four have played every minute for CSUN including junior Paige Califf, sophomore Sydney Lipkin and newcomers Alex Valente and Siena Navarra.

EARLY GOAL SCORERS
CSUN has seen three Matadors already hit the net in 2025. Sophomore Jordyn Canister scored her first goal of the season along with the game winner in the Matadors' 1-0 victory at San José State. Canister already has three points on the season, matching the three she recorded as a freshman in 2024, while she has a team-high shots 11 on the year. CSUN would also get two goals in its season-opening 2-2 draw at Saint Mary's with senior Cailey Jackson netting her sixth career goal and freshman Lia Peterson notching her first career tally. Peterson's goal would come in dramatic fashion, in the 88th minute to even the match and ensure the draw.

SCOUTING UTAH TECH
The Trailblazers are 1-2-1 on the season after drawing with UNLV, 1-1, and falling to Boise State, 2-1, last week. The team's win on the season came in a 2-0 victory over UC Riverside on Aug. 17. In 2024, Utah Tech went 5-7-5 overall and 2-4-1 in the WAC to finish in sixth place in the conference. Prior to this season, Utah Tech was picked to finish tied for third in the WAC by the league's head coaches. Freshman Brooke Hendricks has scored two of the team's four goals thus far in 2025. Heading into the year, Lacy Fox was the team's top returning goal scorer with eight last season.

Series History: CSUN and Utah Tech will play its first-ever women's soccer match on Thursday.

SCOUTING SAN DIEGO
The Toreros have opened the 2025 season with three consecutive ties, all of which against Big West competition. Last week, USD battled to a scoreless draw with UC Irvine before playing UC Santa Barbara to a 1-1 final. San Diego went 3-11-5 overall and 1-7-2 in the WCC last season. After USD finished ninth in the WCC last season, the Toreros were predicted to place 10th in the league by the WCC head coaches. Amanda Anders has recorded two of the team's three goals on the year. In 2024, Mikayla Abrenica topped the Toreros with three goals in 16 appearances.

Series History: USD holds a 12-4-1 edge over CSUN in the all-time series. The teams squared off last season at Matador Soccer Field with the Toreros posting a 2-0 victory. CSUN looks to snap a three-match winless streak in San Diego as the Matadors' last win in the series on the road took place in 2012.

#GoMatadors

CSUN Hosts Utah Tech Before Visiting San Diego

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Califf

Jordyn Canister

Cailey Jackson

Riley Liebsack

Sydney Lipkin

Siena Navarra

Lia Peterson

Yoshi Rubalcava

Alex Valente