CSUN Squares Off with GCU, New Mexico in Road Tests

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer returns to the road for matchups this week as the Matadors visit Grand Canyon on Thursday at 7 p.m. and New Mexico on Sunday at noon. Both matches will be broadcast on the MW+.

FOR STARTERS
The Matadors are 1-2-0 through the first two weeks of the season after collecting their win of the 2026 last Thursday over Idaho State at Matador Soccer Field. CSUN now begins a road heavy stretch over the next three weeks as four of the next six contests will be away from home. After road games at GCU and New Mexico this week, CSUN hosts San Jose State (Sept. 3) and UNLV (Sept. 6) before hitting the road once more to meet Utah Tech (Sept. 10) and Southern Utah (Sept. 13) to close non-conference play.

LAST TIME OUT
The Matadors tasted victory for the first time this season, downing Idaho State 1-0 in their home opener last Thursday night. CSUN picked up a go-ahead penalty kick goal from Ariana Lopez-Angel, her first of her career, in the 76th minute. Idaho State earned a penalty kick of its own in the first half, but CSUN's Hayden Mauldin made an acrobatic save going to her right to help keep the game scoreless. Mauldin had nine saves in the match while defender Sydney Lipkin made a save as well in the second half to help preserve the shutout. Overall, the Bengals outshot the Matadors 28-12 but only had a slight 10-7 edge in shots on goal. The victory on Thursday was CSUN's first win to open its home schedule since the 2015 season.

MAULDIN'S COMEBACK STORY
Goalkeeper Hayden Mauldin has made her long-awaited return to the pitch for CSUN this season after being sidelined with an injury over the past two seasons. Mauldin has quickly made her mark this season, leading the Big West in saves (27) and saves per game (9.00). She earned her first shutout in three seasons last Thursday after a nine-save effort in the win over Idaho State, highlighted by a stop on a penalty kick. For her efforts last week, Mauldin earned Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week Honorable Mention accolades.

Prior to the past two seasons, Mauldin served as the Matadors' primary starting goalkeeper in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. She started 29 games over her first two years with CSUN, notching four shutouts and 167 saves over that span.

FIRST SHUTOUT IN THE BOOKS
CSUN recorded its first shutout of 2026 in its 1-0 victory over Idaho State last week. After giving up two goals in the first half of their season opener against Boise State, the Matadors have just surrendered two goals over the last five halves of play. The Matadors' defense would be their calling card last season, posting nine total shutouts including a school-record seven straight in Big West play. Since head coach Gina Brewer's arrival in 2024, the Matadors have totaled 13 shutouts as a group.

SCOUTING GRAND CANYON
GCU is 2-1-0 on the season, posting a pair of shutout victories over the likes of Arizona and Buffalo. The Lopes though fell by a 1-0 score to Texas last Sunday. The team has averaged 16.7 shots per game and outscored the opposition 4-1 through three matches. In 2025, GCU went 8-8-2 overall and 3-5-2 in the Mountain West. The Lopes were picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West in the preseason coaches' poll. Four GCU players have hit the net this season while Amanda Adams leads the team with four points. Goalkeeper Emma Knack has two shutouts with six saves through three matches in goal.

Series History: CSUN and GCU have split four all-time meetings. The Matadors hosted the Lopes last season, falling by a 1-0 score while CSUN won by a 2-0 score in its last trip to GCU in 2019.

SCOUTING NEW MEXICO
The Lobos are 1-1-0 thus far in 2026. UNM opened up the season with a 2-0 victory over Northern Arizona before falling to Gonzaga 3-1 last Sunday. On the year, New Mexico has scored three goals while surrendering three goals through the first two matches. Last season, UNM finished with an 8-5-6 overall while going 4-2-4 in the Mountain West Conference. New Mexico was picked to finish third in the Mountain West preseason coaches poll this year. The trio of Presley Devey, Nicole Anderson and Fiona Jenkins have scored goals thus far this season. In goal, Alyson Campbell has recorded 11 saves with a shutout for the Lopes.

Series History: CSUN is 0-2 against New Mexico in school history, but the teams have not played since 2011. The Lobos won the last meeting in Northridge by a 1-0 score. CSUN has not played in New Mexico since 2009.
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CSUN Squares Off with GCU, New Mexico in Road Tests

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Players Mentioned

Sydney Lipkin

Ariana Lopez-Angel

Hayden Mauldin

California State University Northridge Athletics