California State University Northridge Athletics
Saturday, October 31
Santa Barbara, Calif
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
at
UC Santa Barbara
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
10/30/2026 12:02:00 PM | Men's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN men's soccer team (7-7-2, 1-3-1 Big West) is set to take on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos on the road, Saturday on Halloween at Harder Stadium. It is the regular season finale of 2026 as the Matadors look to end the campaign on a high note. Kickoff  is slated for 7:00 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
FOR STARTERS
CSUN's record of 7-7-2, 1-3-1 Big West places it sixth in the Big West. The Matadors have wins over UC San Diego, UC Riverside, Cal State Fullerton, San Diego State, Pacific, The Master's University and Oral Roberts University, while earning draws with Houston Christian and Cal State Bakersfield. The Matadors have five wins at home and two wins on the road. CSUN is not mathematically eliminated from postseason play, as the Matadors need a win to stay alive.
LAST TIME OUT Â
CSUN ended the final homestand of the year 1-1 last week. With a 3-2 win over UC San Diego and a 5-1 loss over Sacramento State.
Against the Tritons, CSUN came back from being down a goal to win 3-2 on Senior Night. Kayvon Monfared earned his second brace of the season and Jorge Solorzano provided the deciding penalty kick goal to lead the Matadors to victory.
In the last home game of the season on Saturday, CSUN went up 1-0 on a penalty kick from Jorge Solorzano in the early going, but a red card just minutes after left the Matadors down a man for the rest of the match as they fell to the Hornets.
LEADING THE BIG WEST IN GOALS
CSUN enters Saturday's contest as the leader in the Big West in goals scored this season with 28, two more than the second place team in UC Irvine who has 26. It is a drastic improvement from 2025, where the Matadors only scored 11.
A big reason for that is the senior transfer from Saint Mary's, Kayvon Monfared. Monfared is third in the Big West in goals with eight. He has two braces so far in 2026. His first brace came in his home debut against The Master's University on Aug. 27. His second one was last week against UC San Diego.
The supporting cast has stepped up in a big way as well. Solorzano and Enrique Pineda each have four goals while Francisco Garibay, Dave-Ryan Tankou, Tito Oyewo, and Damien Baltierra each have two scores.
ONE LAST TIME FOR THE GRADUATING SENIORS
For the last time in the regular season, Bryan Castaneda, Ryan Chu, Solorzano, Pineda, and Yart Van Liehsout will take the field. Castaneda saw the field for the last eight games of the regular season as the team's primary goalkeeper. He tallied 23 saves in four wins. Chu made his career debut against San Diego State on Oct. 3. Solorzano and Pineda combined for eight goals, four assists and 18 shots on goal in 2026. Â Van Lieshout came back from a season-ending injury that cut his junior year short in 2025. This year, he played in seven games, started in one and had two shots.
SCOUTING UC SANTA BARBARA
The Gauchos are third in the Big West with a conference record of 2-1-2, and an overall record of 8-5-4. They are currently on a two game losing streak but come into Saturday's contest with a 4-2-3 record at home. Despite the recent losses, UCSB just needs a tie to clinch a berth in the Big West Championship. Whether the Gauchos will get the third or fourth seed is still up in the air.
Offensively, UCSB is led by Steinar Bjornsson, who has nine goals so far this season, which is second in the Big West. Overall as a team, UCSB has tallied 25 scores in 2026, which is tied third in the Big West.
Another player to watch is Kaden Standish, he has five goals scored on 12 points with 15 shots on goal.
Defensively, UCSB has four shutouts on the year with 54 saves from goalkeeper Owen Beninga.Â
SERIES HISTORY
CSUN is 17-27-8 all-time against UCSB. The last win for the Matadors came in 2021 where CSUN won 2-0 at home.
Â
FOR STARTERS
CSUN's record of 7-7-2, 1-3-1 Big West places it sixth in the Big West. The Matadors have wins over UC San Diego, UC Riverside, Cal State Fullerton, San Diego State, Pacific, The Master's University and Oral Roberts University, while earning draws with Houston Christian and Cal State Bakersfield. The Matadors have five wins at home and two wins on the road. CSUN is not mathematically eliminated from postseason play, as the Matadors need a win to stay alive.
LAST TIME OUT Â
CSUN ended the final homestand of the year 1-1 last week. With a 3-2 win over UC San Diego and a 5-1 loss over Sacramento State.
Against the Tritons, CSUN came back from being down a goal to win 3-2 on Senior Night. Kayvon Monfared earned his second brace of the season and Jorge Solorzano provided the deciding penalty kick goal to lead the Matadors to victory.
In the last home game of the season on Saturday, CSUN went up 1-0 on a penalty kick from Jorge Solorzano in the early going, but a red card just minutes after left the Matadors down a man for the rest of the match as they fell to the Hornets.
LEADING THE BIG WEST IN GOALS
CSUN enters Saturday's contest as the leader in the Big West in goals scored this season with 28, two more than the second place team in UC Irvine who has 26. It is a drastic improvement from 2025, where the Matadors only scored 11.
A big reason for that is the senior transfer from Saint Mary's, Kayvon Monfared. Monfared is third in the Big West in goals with eight. He has two braces so far in 2026. His first brace came in his home debut against The Master's University on Aug. 27. His second one was last week against UC San Diego.
The supporting cast has stepped up in a big way as well. Solorzano and Enrique Pineda each have four goals while Francisco Garibay, Dave-Ryan Tankou, Tito Oyewo, and Damien Baltierra each have two scores.
ONE LAST TIME FOR THE GRADUATING SENIORS
For the last time in the regular season, Bryan Castaneda, Ryan Chu, Solorzano, Pineda, and Yart Van Liehsout will take the field. Castaneda saw the field for the last eight games of the regular season as the team's primary goalkeeper. He tallied 23 saves in four wins. Chu made his career debut against San Diego State on Oct. 3. Solorzano and Pineda combined for eight goals, four assists and 18 shots on goal in 2026. Â Van Lieshout came back from a season-ending injury that cut his junior year short in 2025. This year, he played in seven games, started in one and had two shots.
SCOUTING UC SANTA BARBARA
The Gauchos are third in the Big West with a conference record of 2-1-2, and an overall record of 8-5-4. They are currently on a two game losing streak but come into Saturday's contest with a 4-2-3 record at home. Despite the recent losses, UCSB just needs a tie to clinch a berth in the Big West Championship. Whether the Gauchos will get the third or fourth seed is still up in the air.
Offensively, UCSB is led by Steinar Bjornsson, who has nine goals so far this season, which is second in the Big West. Overall as a team, UCSB has tallied 25 scores in 2026, which is tied third in the Big West.
Another player to watch is Kaden Standish, he has five goals scored on 12 points with 15 shots on goal.
Defensively, UCSB has four shutouts on the year with 54 saves from goalkeeper Owen Beninga.Â
SERIES HISTORY
CSUN is 17-27-8 all-time against UCSB. The last win for the Matadors came in 2021 where CSUN won 2-0 at home.
Â
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Men's Soccer
G
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerWednesday, September 16
Thursday, September 03
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, February 13