Peterson's Brace Lifts CSUN to 2-1 Win Over UCSB

Wednesday, October 28

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

6-7-6, 4-3-3

UC Santa Barbara

8-5-6, 3-4-3

Team	1	2	Final F
UC Santa Barbara	0	1	1
CSUN	1	1	2

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

10/28/2026 9:39:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer earned three crucial points in the Big West standings with a 2-1 victory against UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday at Matador Soccer Field. Lia Peterson recorded her first career brace, scoring in each half for the Matadors. Goalkeeper Hayden Mauldin finished with five saves in the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN showed relentlessness on the offensive end to start the match, posting four shots on goal through the first 14 minutes of action. The Matador pressure finally broke the Gaucho defense in the 20th minute when CSUN found the net. Jordyn Canister created the scoring chance by sending a shot from the right side, which would be blocked by the defense. However, Canister regained possession and sent a cross toward the far post where Peterson tapped in the ball from six yards out to put CSUN ahead 1-0.

The Gauchos looked for the equalizer for the remainder of the first half, but the Matador defense would turn away each scoring chance. Behind a stingy backline, Mauldin had two saves including a key stop on a 40th minute strike from Chayse Yu that was batted over the crossbar. Ava Ybarra nearly hit the equalizer just before halftime, hitting the left post before Emily Caughey sent a second shot over the net.

In the second half, the Matadors secured a crucial second goal just 2:05 into the period. Pressure from Peterson in the attacking third led to goalkeeper Maddie Buckley having her clear out deflected by the CSUN sophomore and into the goal for a 2-0 advantage. Moments later, Peterson nearly completed a hat trick in the 55th minute off a header in front of the goal, but the ball sailed high.

PETERSON AGAIN! This time she swarms the goalkeeper to put CSUN ahead 2-0 early in the second half. #GoMatadors https://t.co/0W0ZaAabXW
— CSUN Women's Soccer (@CSUNWSoccer) October 29, 2026

CSUN maintained a two-goal advantage until the 69th minute when the Gauchos broke through on a long pass up the middle of the field. A deflection over the top would find Dakota Watterson who set up a streaking Delilah Vega-Aguilar in an open field. Vega-Aguilar beat her defender and sent a left-footed shot into the net from inside 18 yards. With their lead at 2-1, the Matadors would turn their attention to the defensive side where Mauldin notched two timely saves down the stretch. Despite three corner kicks from UCSB over the final 15 minutes, CSUN stood tall defensively and kept the ball out of the net.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN improves to 6-7-6 overall and 4-3-3 in Big West play while UCSB slips to 8-5-6 overall and 3-4-3 in conference.
The Matadors led the shot count, 19-17, while holding an 8-6 edge in shots on goal.
The Gauchos totaled nine corner kicks compared to three for the Matadors.
Peterson is the fourth Matador to record a brace this season. She has now scored five goals overall on the year, tying her with Yasmin Azar for the team lead.
Canister's assist was her fourth this season.
The group of Harper Curnutt, Keilani Claiborne, Siena Navarra, Sydney Lipkin, Michelle Monroy and Canister played the full 90 minutes.
The win over the Gauchos was the Matadors' first since 2019.

ACCORDING TO COACH GINA BREWER
"The win was massive. We were tied with UC Santa Barbara, and one of five teams tied overall. Only six teams go [to the Big West tournament]. It's huge because essentially, it's a six-point swing. Massive home win, we knew we could do it. We just needed to put it together with the quality performance that we knew were capable of. I'm so happy for the team for their fight, grit and resilience to show how we can play."

UP NEXT
CSUN closes the regular season with a Senior Day matchup with Big West regular season champion Utah Valley on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled from Matador Soccer Field at 1 p.m. Darren Preston and Ellen Blankenship will have the call on ESPN+.

#GoMatadors