Matadors Come Back to Overtake Highlanders, 2-1 in Road Contest

Wednesday, October 14

Riverside, Calif

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

UC Riverside

Photo by: UC Riverside Media Relations

Matadors Come Back to Overtake Highlanders, 2-1 in Road Contest

10/14/2026 10:31:00 PM | Men's Soccer

RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- The CSUN men's soccer team (6-5-2, 1-1-1 Big West) came back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat the UC Riverside Highlanders, 2-1, Wednesday night at UCR Soccer Stadium. Jorge Solorzano and Kayvon Monfared found the back of the net for the Matadors in the win. Bryan Castaneda had four saves.

HOW IT HAPPENED
It would be a defensive battle in the first half. There were only six shots and one shot on goal between the teams in the first 45 minutes. Tito Oyewo and Sebastian Fuentes had the only shots for CSUN in the first 20 minutes with none on target.

In the 31st minute, UCR had a free kick just outside of the box that sailed high off the foot of Diego Esquivel.

Miles Johnson had the best attempt just before the halftime break. He ran down on a breakaway and was the recipient of a pass by Damien Baltierra. However, his shot went wide as the clock reached 45 minutes.

In just the second minute of the second half, UCR broke through. A through ball by Ermias Yohannes found Ace Tendale just outside the left side of the box. Tendale crossed it to Noa Wada who headed the ball into the goal for the Highlanders for a 1-0 lead.

Three minutes later, UCR had a chance to double its advantage. The Highlanders had a breakaway and had numbers marching down CSUN's side of the field. A pass found Ryan Guerra who was one on one with CSUN's keeper, Bryan Castaneda. Castaneda got the upper hand as he stopped a Guerra shot that was headed for the lower right side of the goal. The senior from Carlsbad kept the lead at 1-0.

The lead wouldn't hold for long. In the 53rd minute, Solorzano had a corner kick as the Matadors threatened. A long distance dart from the corner found the head of Monfared who scored his sixth goal of the season. The senior from Anaheim Hills found the low left side of the goal as the Matadors tied things up at one apiece.

Just 10 minutes later, CSUN threatened again. Sebastian Fuentes had the ball deep in the box, trying to dribble past three Riverside defenders. He drew a foul in the box, earning a penalty kick for Solorzano.

The Palmdale native deked the Riverside goalkeeper as he thought Solorzano was going to muscle the ball past him. Instead, Solarzano chipped the ball to the right side of the goal as the goalkeeper guessed the opposite way, giving CSUN a 2-1 lead on its first PK score this year.

In the 67th minute, UCR was inches from making the score level once again, as Guerra had a clear shot inside the box, but Castaneda once again was the protector by stopping the low-center shot from going inside the net.

In the 73rd minute, Solorzano was issued a red card after VAR review, leaving CSUN at 10 men trying to hold the 2-1 lead.

Being up one player and down one goal, UCR was the clear aggressor in the game's last 17 minutes. The Highlanders had seven shots in the final 17 minutes. There were two shots that were missed, two shots that were blocked and three shots that were saved by Castaneda. The Matador defense showed out when all the pressure was on them.

UCR pulled its goalie to the other half of the field in the final two minutes. Juan-Antonio Miranda had one last attempt, but it missed high-left as CSUN held onto the lead and secured the victory.

NOTES OF THE GAME

Monfared's goal puts him in a first-place tie for the Big West lead.
Solorzano's three points are the most he's had in a game this season.
Both teams had 12 shots apiece.
Monfared led the team with four shots.
Seven different Matadors recorded a shot.
Messiah Antwi and Castaneda played the full 90 minutes as 21 different players saw the pitch in the win.
This is now five games in a row where CSUN has recorded a goal.

ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH TERRY DAVILA
"Outstanding team win on the road today! Bryan came up with a huge save to preserve our 1-0 lead. Sebastian Fuentes had a tremendous overall performance, and his versatility played a major role in our success. He drew the penalty kick, and Solorzano stepped up to convert it. We played the final 20 minutes or so down a man, but the team showed tremendous grit, discipline, and determination to protect the lead and secure the victory. An outstanding team effort and a well-earned road win!"

UP NEXT
CSUN will return to Big West play with a showdown against Utah Valley, 6:30 p.m. at UCCU Center in Orem, Utah on Saturday night. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.