California State University Northridge Athletics
CSUN's Malea Johnson and Jana Akins Earn Big West Honors
10/5/2026 2:46:00 PM | Women's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Two members of the CSUN Women's Soccer team collected Big West honors, as announced by the conference office on Monday. Junior forward Malea Johnson received Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors while freshman forward Jana Akins was named Big West Rookie of the Week following a pair of CSUN victories last week.Â
The tandem would score two goals each across the Matadors' road wins over Long Beach State on Wednesday and Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday. Johnson and Akins, both of which came off the bench last week, combined to total nine CSUN points over the two matches.Â
Johnson made use of her 37 minutes on the field against Cal State Bakersfield, totaling a career-high five points in a 4-1 win. The Chatsworth native broke a 1-1 tie with a 63rd-minute goal, which proved to be the game winner. Johnson found the net just six minutes later, completing her first career brace and extending the Matador lead. Earlier in the contest, Johnson would assist McKenzie Sanchez in CSUN's first goal of the match. Johnson's two goals in the match were her first of her Matador career.Â
Originally from Costa Mesa, Akins struck the back of the net in both of the Matadors' victories last week, extending her goal scoring streak to three straight matches. Akins was called upon to take a pivotal 77th minute penalty kick at Long Beach State with CSUN trailing by a goal. The freshman would calmly hit the netting, tying the match and helping propel CSUN to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory. Akins then capped her week by scoring again late in a match at Cal State Bakersfield, as she put away a shot in the 73rd minute off a pass from Ariana Lopez-Angel.Â
Johnson and Akins both received their first career Big West awards on Monday. They both join Yasmin Azar (Offensive Player of the Week), Siena Navarra (Defensive Player of the Week) and Theresa Castro (Rookie of the Week) to earn a Big West weekly award this season.Â
CSUN (4-5-4, 2-1-1 Big West) returns to action on Saturday to face UC Irvine at Anteater Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.Â
#GoMatadors
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The tandem would score two goals each across the Matadors' road wins over Long Beach State on Wednesday and Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday. Johnson and Akins, both of which came off the bench last week, combined to total nine CSUN points over the two matches.Â
Johnson made use of her 37 minutes on the field against Cal State Bakersfield, totaling a career-high five points in a 4-1 win. The Chatsworth native broke a 1-1 tie with a 63rd-minute goal, which proved to be the game winner. Johnson found the net just six minutes later, completing her first career brace and extending the Matador lead. Earlier in the contest, Johnson would assist McKenzie Sanchez in CSUN's first goal of the match. Johnson's two goals in the match were her first of her Matador career.Â
Originally from Costa Mesa, Akins struck the back of the net in both of the Matadors' victories last week, extending her goal scoring streak to three straight matches. Akins was called upon to take a pivotal 77th minute penalty kick at Long Beach State with CSUN trailing by a goal. The freshman would calmly hit the netting, tying the match and helping propel CSUN to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory. Akins then capped her week by scoring again late in a match at Cal State Bakersfield, as she put away a shot in the 73rd minute off a pass from Ariana Lopez-Angel.Â
Johnson and Akins both received their first career Big West awards on Monday. They both join Yasmin Azar (Offensive Player of the Week), Siena Navarra (Defensive Player of the Week) and Theresa Castro (Rookie of the Week) to earn a Big West weekly award this season.Â
CSUN (4-5-4, 2-1-1 Big West) returns to action on Saturday to face UC Irvine at Anteater Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.Â
#GoMatadors
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Players Mentioned
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