CSUN Women's Soccer Kicks Off Fall Hosting Trinity Western in Exhibition

Thursday, August 6

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

Trinity Western

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Women's Soccer Kicks Off Fall Hosting Trinity Western in Exhibition

8/5/2026 11:31:00 AM | Women's Soccer

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---The defending Big West regular season champion CSUN Women's Soccer team takes the field for the first time this fall when the Matadors host Trinity Western in an exhibition on Thursday at Matador Soccer Field. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. while live stats will be available for the match. All fans receive free admission for the match.

CSUN will play just one exhibition match this season before officially opening up the 2026 season as the Matadors travel to Boise State for the regular season opener on Thursday, Aug. 12.

TEAM OUTLOOK
CSUN has returned several key members of its Big West regular season championship team in 2026. In total, the Matadors have 14 letterwinners including seven returning starters. Three redshirts return to CSUN in 2026 while nine total newcomers have joined the roster, consisting of seven freshmen and two Division I transfers.

After setting a school record with seven straight shutouts as well as nine overall in 2025, the Matadors have returned key pieces of his defensive core. Once again anchoring the defense will be junior Sydney Lipkin, who earned All-Big West First-Team honors last season, along with starters Siena Navarra, Alex Valente and Michelle Monroy on the backline. Replacing the departing Riley Liebsack, junior Hayden Mauldin returns to her post as starting goalkeeper after missing the past two seasons with injury.

CSUN has brought back a pair of key weapons on the scoring side in juniors Jordyn Canister and Yasmin Azar, each of which scored three goals and totaled seven points last season, to help replace all-conference honorees Cailey Jackson and Paige Califf. Sophomore Lia Peterson also figures to be a big part of the Matador returning core after netting a pair of goals in her freshman season. Another returning starter, junior Kayden Perigo has totaled two goals and six points in her CSUN career. Other returning letterwinners include junior Keilani Claiborne and sophomores Ariana Lopez-Angel, Veronica Toscano and Alena Ramirez.

Looking to make a quick impact this season, transfers Malea Johnson and Paige Harris bring Division I experience to the Matadors. Johnson, a forward, spent the past two seasons at Long Beach State where she appeared in 33 matches and totaled two goals with five points. Harris, a defender, played two seasons at Idaho State, accumulating three goals, three assists and nine points over 33 total contests.

Among the new faces are a seven-member freshmen class. Joining the ranks will be forwards Jana Akins (Estancia HS/Slammers HB Koge) and McKenzie Sanchez (Mt. Carmel/Rebels SC), midfielders Amaya Jackson (Gwinnett Soccer Academy) and Theresa Castro (Bonita Vista HS/Rebels SC), defenders Harper Curnutt (Auburn Riverside HS/Pacific Northwest SC) and Emerson Moran (Bellevue HS/Seattle Reign Academy), and goalkeeper Alana Miller (Mt. Carmel HS/Legends SD).

Also making their Matador debuts on the field this season will be two returning redshirts in defender Ireland Regan and goalkeeper Isabella Andrino.

FAMILIAR FACES ON THE BENCH
Head coach Gina Brewer returns for her third season leading the Matadors in 2026 alongside associate head coach Kevin Pineda and assistant coach Dan Solli. Two years removed from finishing in last place in 2023, Brewer coached the Matadors to the top of the Big West last season and captured the team's second regular season conference title in team history. Brewer would be named Big West Coach of the Year following CSUN's remarkable run to the top of the league.

ABOUT TRINITY WESTERN
The Spartans, a team hailing from Langley, B.C., Canada, posted a 16-10-2 overall record last season and advanced to the semifinals of the U Sports Championship. Trinity Western opened up a one-week stay in Southern California with a 3-0 exhibition defeat at UC Riverside on Tuesday. The Spartans will also play at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday.

CSUN hosted Trinity Western last season in an exhibition match at Matador Soccer Field, prevailing 2-1 on goals from seniors Cailey Jackson and Yoshi Rubalcava.

#GoMatadors