Forfor’s Late Goal Lifts CSUN to 1-0 Win Against UNLV, Matadors Off to Best Start Since 2013

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Eyifehn Forfor broke a scoreless tie in the 77th minute and CSUN held on for a 1-0 victory over UNLV on Sunday night at Matador Soccer Field.

Goalkeeper Dorian Drucks made four saves to earn his seventh win and sixth shutout of the season. CSUN's back line turned away a pair of late UNLV chances, including a shot in the 86th minute that Drucks smothered.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first half was a back-and-forth battle with both sides trading chances. CSUN's Zack Harris had the first look of the night in the fifth minute, but his shot was blocked. Jake Shaked followed in the 20th minute with a header that forced a save from UNLV goalkeeper Hugo Lemos.

The Rebels threatened midway through the half with three quick attempts in the 23rd minute. Kai Merrill and Thomas Lebeuf both put shots on frame, but Drucks came up with back-to-back saves to keep the match level. CSUN nearly broke through again late in the half when Sebastian Fuentes' shot in the 42nd minute was stopped by Lemos, and Ian Boras pushed a strike wide just before the break.

The Matadors pressed harder in the second half, using their speed on the wings to generate pressure. Harris had two looks in the first 15 minutes after the restart, one shot sailing wide and another blocked inside the box. CSUN steadily built momentum with a series of corner kicks between the 59th and 76th minutes, keeping UNLV's back line under constant pressure.

That persistence paid off when Forfor broke through in the 77th minute. After Harris fired just wide a minute earlier, CSUN's short corner created chaos in front of goal. Jorge Solorzano got a touch, the ball deflected toward Lemos, and Forfor buried the loose ball from close range.

UNLV tried to answer late, with Andres Robles putting two shots on goal in the closing minutes, including one in the 86th minute that Drucks smothered to preserve the lead. The Rebels added one final push in stoppage time, but the Matador defense stood firm.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN is off to its best start since 2013, where it began the season 7-0.
The Matadors have only allowed one goal all season, with this being the seventh game this season with a shutout.
Forfor, in his second season with the Matadors, nets his first CSUN goal. He had four goals with Iowa Western in two seasons.
The highly successful defensive backline includes Luke Lawrence and Siddiq Lezzar, both of whom have played all eight games and have tallied 681 and 697 minutes played, respectively.
CSUN led in the shots department, 10-7.

ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH TERRY DAVILA
"There's two things in soccer. If you keep the ball and you have possession, you limit the opportunities the other team has. When we put together good offense and good defense, it can come together to combine into a great win. We're a solid team, and there is still work left to do to be a championship team. We do a good job though of controlling possession, and we don't let the other team get in offensive shape because they have to defend us. We're not the biggest team but we are very athletic and have great goalkeepers."

UP NEXT
CSUN takes to the road where it will take on Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz, Friday September 26 at 7:00 p.m.

Forfor’s Late Goal Lifts CSUN to 1-0 Win Against UNLV, Matadors Off to Best Start Since 2013

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Team Stats

Eyifehn Forfor

Zack Harris

Sebastian Fuentes

Jake Shaked

Players Mentioned

Ian Boras

Dorian Drucks

Eyifehn Forfor

Sebastian Fuentes

Zack Harris

Luke Lawrence

Siddiq Lezzar

Jake Shaked

Jorge Solorzano