California State University Northridge Athletics
Saturday, October 10
Irvine, Calif.
6:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
at
UC Irvine
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Wraps Up Road Swing at UC Irvine on Saturday
10/7/2026 3:01:00 PM | Women's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer completes a three-game road swing with a Saturday night matchup at UC Irvine. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.Â
FOR STARTERS
With the two wins last week, CSUN improved to 4-5-4 overall and 2-1-1 in Big West play. The team enters the week tied for fourth place in the Big West standings at seven points but just one point back of first place, currently occupied by UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton and Utah Valley. The Matadors return home next week to face defending Big West tournament champions Cal Poly on Oct. 14 along with California Baptist on Oct. 17.Â
ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN posted two road victories last week to run its unbeaten streak to three straight matches. The Matadors knocked off Long Beach State 4-3 last Wednesday before defeating Cal State Bakersfield 4-1 last Saturday.Â
Trailing 3-2 with less than 14 minutes to play, the Matadors stormed back to stun Long Beach State. CSUN earned a 77th-minute penalty kick, leading to freshman Jana Akins tying the match at 3-3. Then, in the 84th minute, Yasmin Azar set up Lia Peterson with a pass at the top of the box, which Peterson would not miss. The Matadors lost defender Sydney Lipkin late in the match on a red card but held on for the 4-3 victory. Earlier in the contest, CSUN took a 1-0 lead on an eighth-minute header from Jordyn Canister, assisted by Azar. After the Beach tied the match, roles reversed early in the second half as Canister would set the table for Azar who knocked in her fourth goal of the season.Â
CSUN completed a 2-0 week with a big second half at Cal State Bakersfield. The Matadors took a 1-0 lead into halftime after a late goal from freshman McKenzie Sanchez, but the Roadrunners squared the match early in the second half. From there, it would be all Matadors as Malea Johnson scored back-to-back goals over a six-minute stretch, beginning in the 63rd minute. Akins would put the game further out of reach by scoring for a third consecutive match, this time off a pass from Ariana Lopez-Angel. A Bakersfield native, goalkeeper Hayden Mauldin recorded six saves in the victory.Â
BIG WEST HONORS
Two Matadors picked up Big West honors on Oct. 5, as Malea Johnson was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week and Jana Akins picked up Big West Rookie of the Week honors. Johnson recorded her first career brace at Cal State Bakersfield, scoring twice over a six-minute stretch of the second half. She would get credit for the game winner in the match while she also recorded an assist as well. Akins contributed to Matador wins over Long Beach State and Cal State Bakersfield, scoring in each game in the second half. The goals would be her second and third of the season, helping lead to a 4-3 win versus the Beach and a 4-1 victory against the 'Runners.Â
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD
The Matadors scored eight combined goals over two wins last week, continuing a hot string on the offensive end. CSUN has now scored multiple goals in six of its last seven matches and three or more goals in three of those contests. The Matadors have tallied four goals in three games overall this season, a first for the program since 2015. The team has especially been dangerous in the second half, netting 12 total goals after halftime over the past seven contests. CSUN's recent offensive exploits has moved the team into third place in the Big West in goals scored (22), points (67) and assists (23).Â
Over the past seven contests, Yasmin Azar has emerged as the team's top scorer, racking up four goals to go with five assists. Azar is ranked sixth in the Big West in goals while she is fourth in assists and fifth in points (13). Freshman Jana Akins has picked up a goal in each of the past three contests to move into a second-place tie on the team in goals scored with the tandem of Lia Peterson of Jordyn Canister. Overall, 10 Matadors have notched at least one goal on the year.Â
SCOUTING UC IRVINE
UCI is 4-4-3 overall this season with a 2-1-1 Big West record. The Anteaters split two matches last week as UC Irvine dropped a 3-1 home decision to Utah Valley before securing a 2-1 win on the road at UC Riverside. On the year, the team is ranked seventh in the Big West in goals per game at 1.7 with 14 total goals while the Anteaters are ninth in goals allowed (19) and 10th in goals-against-average (1.73). Five players have scored multiple goals this season led by Fiona Shin with three goals to go with eight points. In goal, Savanna Arruda sports a 1.81 GAA with 34 saves.Â
Series History: The Anteaters hold a 13-12-5 edge over the Matadors in the all-time series. CSUN came out victorious last season at home, winning 1-0 to snap a six-match winless streak in the series. At Anteater Stadium, UCI has won four straight meetings, dating back to 2018. The teams are accustomed to playing in close matches over the years as eight of the last 11 matches have been decided by one goal.Â
#GoMatadors
Â
FOR STARTERS
With the two wins last week, CSUN improved to 4-5-4 overall and 2-1-1 in Big West play. The team enters the week tied for fourth place in the Big West standings at seven points but just one point back of first place, currently occupied by UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton and Utah Valley. The Matadors return home next week to face defending Big West tournament champions Cal Poly on Oct. 14 along with California Baptist on Oct. 17.Â
ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN posted two road victories last week to run its unbeaten streak to three straight matches. The Matadors knocked off Long Beach State 4-3 last Wednesday before defeating Cal State Bakersfield 4-1 last Saturday.Â
Trailing 3-2 with less than 14 minutes to play, the Matadors stormed back to stun Long Beach State. CSUN earned a 77th-minute penalty kick, leading to freshman Jana Akins tying the match at 3-3. Then, in the 84th minute, Yasmin Azar set up Lia Peterson with a pass at the top of the box, which Peterson would not miss. The Matadors lost defender Sydney Lipkin late in the match on a red card but held on for the 4-3 victory. Earlier in the contest, CSUN took a 1-0 lead on an eighth-minute header from Jordyn Canister, assisted by Azar. After the Beach tied the match, roles reversed early in the second half as Canister would set the table for Azar who knocked in her fourth goal of the season.Â
CSUN completed a 2-0 week with a big second half at Cal State Bakersfield. The Matadors took a 1-0 lead into halftime after a late goal from freshman McKenzie Sanchez, but the Roadrunners squared the match early in the second half. From there, it would be all Matadors as Malea Johnson scored back-to-back goals over a six-minute stretch, beginning in the 63rd minute. Akins would put the game further out of reach by scoring for a third consecutive match, this time off a pass from Ariana Lopez-Angel. A Bakersfield native, goalkeeper Hayden Mauldin recorded six saves in the victory.Â
BIG WEST HONORS
Two Matadors picked up Big West honors on Oct. 5, as Malea Johnson was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week and Jana Akins picked up Big West Rookie of the Week honors. Johnson recorded her first career brace at Cal State Bakersfield, scoring twice over a six-minute stretch of the second half. She would get credit for the game winner in the match while she also recorded an assist as well. Akins contributed to Matador wins over Long Beach State and Cal State Bakersfield, scoring in each game in the second half. The goals would be her second and third of the season, helping lead to a 4-3 win versus the Beach and a 4-1 victory against the 'Runners.Â
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD
The Matadors scored eight combined goals over two wins last week, continuing a hot string on the offensive end. CSUN has now scored multiple goals in six of its last seven matches and three or more goals in three of those contests. The Matadors have tallied four goals in three games overall this season, a first for the program since 2015. The team has especially been dangerous in the second half, netting 12 total goals after halftime over the past seven contests. CSUN's recent offensive exploits has moved the team into third place in the Big West in goals scored (22), points (67) and assists (23).Â
Over the past seven contests, Yasmin Azar has emerged as the team's top scorer, racking up four goals to go with five assists. Azar is ranked sixth in the Big West in goals while she is fourth in assists and fifth in points (13). Freshman Jana Akins has picked up a goal in each of the past three contests to move into a second-place tie on the team in goals scored with the tandem of Lia Peterson of Jordyn Canister. Overall, 10 Matadors have notched at least one goal on the year.Â
SCOUTING UC IRVINE
UCI is 4-4-3 overall this season with a 2-1-1 Big West record. The Anteaters split two matches last week as UC Irvine dropped a 3-1 home decision to Utah Valley before securing a 2-1 win on the road at UC Riverside. On the year, the team is ranked seventh in the Big West in goals per game at 1.7 with 14 total goals while the Anteaters are ninth in goals allowed (19) and 10th in goals-against-average (1.73). Five players have scored multiple goals this season led by Fiona Shin with three goals to go with eight points. In goal, Savanna Arruda sports a 1.81 GAA with 34 saves.Â
Series History: The Anteaters hold a 13-12-5 edge over the Matadors in the all-time series. CSUN came out victorious last season at home, winning 1-0 to snap a six-match winless streak in the series. At Anteater Stadium, UCI has won four straight meetings, dating back to 2018. The teams are accustomed to playing in close matches over the years as eight of the last 11 matches have been decided by one goal.Â
#GoMatadors
Â
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerWednesday, September 16
Thursday, September 03
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, February 13