Sunday, September 28
Northridge, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
4-6-2, 2-0-1
2
vs
0
UC Riverside
0-10-1, 0-3-0
1
2
F
UC Riverside
0
0
0
CSUN
1
1
2
Photo by: Bella A Enriquez
CSUN Stays Unbeaten in Big West Play, Downs UC Riverside 2-0
9/28/2025 9:36:00 PM | Women's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer earned its third consecutive shutout to start Big West play as the Matadors knocked off UC Riverside 2-0 on Sunday evening at Matador Soccer Field. Paige Califf scored her first career goal late in the first half while Yasmin Azar added an insurance goal after halftime. In goal, Riley Liebsack notched her fourth shutout of the season, and third straight, as she recorded two saves.Â
CSUN has started Big West play with three consecutive shutouts for the first time since the 2004 season while the Matadors are unbeaten through their first three conference games for the first time since 2015.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
The shot count would be even in the first half with each side generating six shots apiece. Liebsack made an acrobatic save in the fourth minute, keeping the ball out of the net off the foot of Finley Aghassi. CSUN would be turned away in the seventh minute when a service from Yoshi Rubalcava bounced in front of the goal, but Jordyn Canister had a shot saved by Trinity Hale. The Matadors earned two of their three corner kicks in the first half within a 47-second span, beginning in the 42nd minute, with their second set piece resulting in the game's first goal. After Michelle Monroy sent a high left-footed shot at the far post, Hale punched the ball out of bounds, giving CSUN the corner. The Matadors played the corner kick short, leading to a cross from Cailey Jackson in the corner that found Califf at the far post. A header would find the back of the net, giving CSUN a 1-0 lead.Â
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After nearly finding the net late in the first half, Azar put away her first shot attempt of the second half in the 51st minute. Califf set up the play by driving the ball to the middle of the field and passing to Azar up the left side. Azar took a pair of dribbles and sent a high right-footed shot over the outstretched hands of Hale and into the net for a 2-0 lead. The Matadors would control the pace of the second half, outshooting the Highlanders 10-5 in the stanza. CSUN nearly added to its lead in the 78th minute when the Matadors earned a penalty kick after a UCR foul, but Sami Kolin's shot was denied by Hale while Lia Peterson missed just high off the rebound. UCR earned a pair of late shots over the final 10 minutes of action, with Liebsack making her second save of the match during that period to help CSUN secure the shutout.Â
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NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO COACH GINA BREWER
"We wanted to have a really good mentality going into this game. Having three games in a week is always challenging, so mentally and physically, sometimes, you can be a little bit taxed. We asked them to really work hard, have that 90-minute focus, finish strong and put away our opportunities and chances. A fantastic early goal from Paige right at the end of the first half, and obviously, a really good goal from Yas who purposely played that bending ball in the far post. That was really special. A fantastic start to conference and we just want to keep going."Â
UP NEXT
CSUN will hit the road next to UC San Diego. The team play a Sunday afternoon match on Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.Â
#GoMatadors
Â
CSUN has started Big West play with three consecutive shutouts for the first time since the 2004 season while the Matadors are unbeaten through their first three conference games for the first time since 2015.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
The shot count would be even in the first half with each side generating six shots apiece. Liebsack made an acrobatic save in the fourth minute, keeping the ball out of the net off the foot of Finley Aghassi. CSUN would be turned away in the seventh minute when a service from Yoshi Rubalcava bounced in front of the goal, but Jordyn Canister had a shot saved by Trinity Hale. The Matadors earned two of their three corner kicks in the first half within a 47-second span, beginning in the 42nd minute, with their second set piece resulting in the game's first goal. After Michelle Monroy sent a high left-footed shot at the far post, Hale punched the ball out of bounds, giving CSUN the corner. The Matadors played the corner kick short, leading to a cross from Cailey Jackson in the corner that found Califf at the far post. A header would find the back of the net, giving CSUN a 1-0 lead.Â
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CSUN LEADS!
— CSUN Women's Soccer (@CSUNWSoccer) September 29, 2025
Paige Califf heads in the corner from Jackson in the 43rd minute.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/K7q6JYFDT0
After nearly finding the net late in the first half, Azar put away her first shot attempt of the second half in the 51st minute. Califf set up the play by driving the ball to the middle of the field and passing to Azar up the left side. Azar took a pair of dribbles and sent a high right-footed shot over the outstretched hands of Hale and into the net for a 2-0 lead. The Matadors would control the pace of the second half, outshooting the Highlanders 10-5 in the stanza. CSUN nearly added to its lead in the 78th minute when the Matadors earned a penalty kick after a UCR foul, but Sami Kolin's shot was denied by Hale while Lia Peterson missed just high off the rebound. UCR earned a pair of late shots over the final 10 minutes of action, with Liebsack making her second save of the match during that period to help CSUN secure the shutout.Â
Â
YASMIN AZAR ??
— CSUN Women's Soccer (@CSUNWSoccer) September 29, 2025
What a strike to put CSUN up 2-0.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/Tuhy6eyghH
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN improves to 4-6-2 overall and 2-0-1 in Big West play while UC Riverside slips to 0-10-1 overall and 0-3-0 in conference.Â
- The Matadors finished with a 16-11 edge in shots along with a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal.Â
- CSUN also led 5-2 in corner kicks.Â
- A total of 24 fouls were called with CSUN whistled for 15 and UC Riverside at nine. The Matadors' Sydney Lipkin and the Highlanders' Paige Gartner were shown yellow cards.Â
- Califf finished with a goal and an assist in the match to go with a team-high four shots.Â
- Azar's goal was her second of the season.Â
- Califf, Monroy, Rubalcava and Alex Valente played the full 90 minutes.Â
- Liebsack has now recorded eight career shutouts as a Matador and 16 overall in her career.Â
ACCORDING TO COACH GINA BREWER
"We wanted to have a really good mentality going into this game. Having three games in a week is always challenging, so mentally and physically, sometimes, you can be a little bit taxed. We asked them to really work hard, have that 90-minute focus, finish strong and put away our opportunities and chances. A fantastic early goal from Paige right at the end of the first half, and obviously, a really good goal from Yas who purposely played that bending ball in the far post. That was really special. A fantastic start to conference and we just want to keep going."Â
UP NEXT
CSUN will hit the road next to UC San Diego. The team play a Sunday afternoon match on Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.Â
#GoMatadors
Â
Team Stats
UCR
CSUN
Goals
0
2
Shots
11
16
Shots on Goal
2
5
Saves
3
2
Corners
2
5
Fouls
9
15
Scoring Plays
Paige Califf (1)
Assisted By: Cailey Jackson , Yoshi Rubalcava
Corner played short, 5 cross from the left corner, 4 header at far post
42:12
Yasmin Azar (2)
Assisted By: Paige Califf
4 at midfield, kicks to the left side to 8, a few dribbles, finishes from left wing.
50:14
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
1
fwd
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's Soccer
D
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