CSUN Falls Short at UC Irvine, 2-1 in First Big West Road Contest

Wednesday, October 7

Irvine, Calif

6:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

4-5-2, 0-1-1

UC Irvine

6-5-1, 2-1-0

Team	1	2	Final F
CSUN	0	1	1
UC Irvine	1	1	2

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Falls Short at UC Irvine, 2-1 in First Big West Road Contest

10/7/2026 8:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. --- The CSUN men's soccer team (4-5-2, 0-1-1 Big West) fell to the UC Irvine Anteaters, 2-1, Wednesday night at Anteater Stadium. Jack Cameron scored his first career collegiate goal in the defeat.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN came out of the gates firing to try and open up the scoring on the defending Big West champions. The Matadors tallied four shots in the first 16 minutes, seven shots in the first 25 minutes and nine total shots in the first half. Justin Sosa and Jorge Solorzano led the way as both had two shots each. Solorzano and Dave-Ryan Tankou registered the two shots on goal for CSUN. Tankou's shot was on the high right side, but was saved by Scott Williams, the UCI goalkeeper.

UCI's Ferran Duran had a free kick about 15 yards out of the box found the net, a strike that was intended to reach the target was deflected off of defender Dominik Wicks, giving UCI the early 1-0 lead in the 26^th minute. The shot would be ruled an own goal and the lead would stay heading into the break.

While CSUN had nine shots, the Matadors held UCI to only five shots in the first half, none of which were on goal.

In the second half, CSUN kept on trying to find its rhythm. Adrian Jones had his shot blocked in the 57th minute. Enrique Pineda had a shot that missed right in the 60th minute. In the 66th minute CSUN had its best attempts at tying the game. Daniel Garcia had a shot blocked and a Francisco Garibay rebound shot hit the crossbar.

After the two shots, a scuffle between both teams resulted in a yellow card on Tito Oyewo.

On the very next play, a foul by Pierre Rizzo on Jones resulted in a penalty kick for the Matadors. Solorzano took the penalty kick, as CSUN had a prime opportunity to level the game. However, it wasn't meant to be. Solorzano's shot was saved by Williams on the right side, keeping the UCI lead. Garcia had an attempt on the rebound but was blocked.

A second yellow card was assessed to Pineda on the 70th minute, resulting in the Matadors playing a man down the rest of the game.

UCI would add on to its lead in the 75th minute. A shot by Zac Smuck, on the low right side found the net via a pass from Gage Lyons who was fed by James Arteaga to make it 2-0.

The two-goal lead didn't stay long however. In the 77th minute, Tankou was driving in the left side of the box and he hit a cross that was deflected by the goalkeeper right into the lane of Cameron. Cameron had an easy shot, and he slotted an attempt on the low right side as the keeper had no chance to catch up. CSUN cut the lead in half as it was now 2-1.

The game then went back and forth as CSUN had one final good chance, a shot by Solorzano in the 88th minute went high in the center of the goal that was saved by the keeper.

NOTES OF THE GAME

The Matadors fought all night, outshooting the Anteaters 19-9.
CSUN had six shots on goal to UCI's four
There were 34 fouls in the game between the two teams.
There were eight yellow cards in the game.
CSUN has now scored a goal in four straight games.
Garcia and Messiah Antwi played all 90 minutes.
This is the first time this season that Solorzano had five shot attempts.

UP NEXT
CSUN returns home and will continue Big West play with a contest against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday night. Kickoff at Matador Soccer Field is at 7:00 p.m. and will be live streamed on ESPN+. Ghizal Hasan and Gio Galvez will be on the call.