California State University Northridge Athletics
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Returns Home to Meet San José State and UNLV
9/2/2026 1:39:00 PM | Women's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer returns to Matador Soccer Field for a pair of home contests this week. The Matadors host San José State on Thursday night before facing visiting UNLV on Sunday. Both matches will kickoff at 7:05 p.m. on ESPN+.
FOR STARTERS
CSUN (1-4-0) will play just its second and third matches at Matador Soccer Field after opening the 2026 season with four of five matches on the road. The Matadors won their only home match this season on Aug. 20, defeating Idaho State 1-0, as Ariana Lopez-Angel hit the game winner in the 76th minute. CSUN has gone undefeated at home over its last seven matches, dating back to last season.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
In last week's action, the Matadors dropped a road match at Grand Canyon 3-0 before nearly coming from behind in a 3-2 loss at New Mexico.
At GCU, the Matadors recorded 13 shots in the match but could not find the back of the net on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Lopes opened up the scoring in the 39th minute before putting the game out of reach with a pair of second-half goals. Hayden Mauldin had nine saves in front of the goal while defender Alex Valente posted a team-high three shots.
CSUN fell into an early hole at New Mexico on Sunday, surrendering three unanswered goals in the first half. However, the Matadors gained some momentum just before halftime when Jordyn Canister headed in a 44th minute goal, set up by Yasmin Azar off a corner kick. In the second half, CSUN trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the 67th minute when the Matadors earned a penalty kick and Ariana Lopez-Angel proceeded to score her second goal of the season. The Matadors appeared to earn another penalty kick in the 81st minute after Jana Akins was taken down in the box. However, after a video review, it was decided CSUN had committed an offside prior to the foul and the PK was wiped away. UNM would hold on in the final moments for a 3-2 win.
COMEBACK STORIES
Ariana Lopez-Angel hit the net for the second time this season in Sunday's loss at New Mexico. Both of her goals this season have come off penalty kicks. Lopez-Angel has returned to the Matadors after missing most of last season with an injury. Her two goals this season are her first career goals as she currently ranks fourth in the Big West in the category in 2026. She also tops the Matadors with six shots including three on goal.
In goal, Hayden Mauldin has also been one of the biggest stories for CSUN this season. Mauldin missed the previous two seasons with injury after beginning her first two years with CSUN as the team's starting goalkeeper. In her return, Mauldin has quickly made her mark on the pitch, leading the Big West in saves (42) and saves per game (8.40). On Aug. 20, Mauldin recorded her first shutout in three seasons with a nine-save effort against Idaho State, highlighted by a save on a penalty kick. For her efforts in that match, Mauldin earned Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week Honorable Mention accolades.
SCOUTING SAN JOSÉ STATE
The Spartans are still seeking their first win of the season as they come in with a 0-3-1 overall record. SJSU though played Cal State Fullerton to a 2-2 draw last Thursday at home. The team has alsio played the Big West's UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly this season, falling by 1-0 and 3-0 scores, respectively. Abigail Peterman leads the Spartans with two goals this season, both of which scored last week against Cal State Fullerton. In 2025, the team was led in scoring by Paige Pineda Aliamus who had seven goals with 15 points. In goal, Paige Fry sports a 1.48 goals-against-average and 18 saves this season.
Series History: The Matadors and Spartans are 2-2-1 all time in women's soccer. The teams faced off last season in San José with the Matadors prevailing by a 1-0 score on a game winner from Jordyn Canister.
SCOUTING UNLV
The Rebels hold a 1-3-1 overall record on the season. In last week's action, UNLV earned a 3-3 draw at Idaho State on Thursday. Thus far, UNLV has played three Big West teams, dropping three one-goal decisions to Cal Poly, 1-0, UC San Diego, 2-1, and California Baptist, 1-0. Four Rebels have scored goals this season, led by Kaitlin Taylor with two goals to go with five points while Summer Pyles, Audrina Hernandez and Julia Salem have hit the net once each. Goalkeeper Riley Hodson sports a 0.87 goals-against-average to go with 10 saves for UNLV.
Series History: CSUN leads UNLV 5-3-1 in the all-time series. The teams last competed in the 2023 season when they played to a 0-0 draw in Las Vegas. CSUN last hosted UNLV in the 2018 season, falling by a 3-1 score.
#GoMatadors
FOR STARTERS
CSUN (1-4-0) will play just its second and third matches at Matador Soccer Field after opening the 2026 season with four of five matches on the road. The Matadors won their only home match this season on Aug. 20, defeating Idaho State 1-0, as Ariana Lopez-Angel hit the game winner in the 76th minute. CSUN has gone undefeated at home over its last seven matches, dating back to last season.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
In last week's action, the Matadors dropped a road match at Grand Canyon 3-0 before nearly coming from behind in a 3-2 loss at New Mexico.
At GCU, the Matadors recorded 13 shots in the match but could not find the back of the net on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Lopes opened up the scoring in the 39th minute before putting the game out of reach with a pair of second-half goals. Hayden Mauldin had nine saves in front of the goal while defender Alex Valente posted a team-high three shots.
CSUN fell into an early hole at New Mexico on Sunday, surrendering three unanswered goals in the first half. However, the Matadors gained some momentum just before halftime when Jordyn Canister headed in a 44th minute goal, set up by Yasmin Azar off a corner kick. In the second half, CSUN trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the 67th minute when the Matadors earned a penalty kick and Ariana Lopez-Angel proceeded to score her second goal of the season. The Matadors appeared to earn another penalty kick in the 81st minute after Jana Akins was taken down in the box. However, after a video review, it was decided CSUN had committed an offside prior to the foul and the PK was wiped away. UNM would hold on in the final moments for a 3-2 win.
COMEBACK STORIES
Ariana Lopez-Angel hit the net for the second time this season in Sunday's loss at New Mexico. Both of her goals this season have come off penalty kicks. Lopez-Angel has returned to the Matadors after missing most of last season with an injury. Her two goals this season are her first career goals as she currently ranks fourth in the Big West in the category in 2026. She also tops the Matadors with six shots including three on goal.
In goal, Hayden Mauldin has also been one of the biggest stories for CSUN this season. Mauldin missed the previous two seasons with injury after beginning her first two years with CSUN as the team's starting goalkeeper. In her return, Mauldin has quickly made her mark on the pitch, leading the Big West in saves (42) and saves per game (8.40). On Aug. 20, Mauldin recorded her first shutout in three seasons with a nine-save effort against Idaho State, highlighted by a save on a penalty kick. For her efforts in that match, Mauldin earned Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week Honorable Mention accolades.
SCOUTING SAN JOSÉ STATE
The Spartans are still seeking their first win of the season as they come in with a 0-3-1 overall record. SJSU though played Cal State Fullerton to a 2-2 draw last Thursday at home. The team has alsio played the Big West's UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly this season, falling by 1-0 and 3-0 scores, respectively. Abigail Peterman leads the Spartans with two goals this season, both of which scored last week against Cal State Fullerton. In 2025, the team was led in scoring by Paige Pineda Aliamus who had seven goals with 15 points. In goal, Paige Fry sports a 1.48 goals-against-average and 18 saves this season.
Series History: The Matadors and Spartans are 2-2-1 all time in women's soccer. The teams faced off last season in San José with the Matadors prevailing by a 1-0 score on a game winner from Jordyn Canister.
SCOUTING UNLV
The Rebels hold a 1-3-1 overall record on the season. In last week's action, UNLV earned a 3-3 draw at Idaho State on Thursday. Thus far, UNLV has played three Big West teams, dropping three one-goal decisions to Cal Poly, 1-0, UC San Diego, 2-1, and California Baptist, 1-0. Four Rebels have scored goals this season, led by Kaitlin Taylor with two goals to go with five points while Summer Pyles, Audrina Hernandez and Julia Salem have hit the net once each. Goalkeeper Riley Hodson sports a 0.87 goals-against-average to go with 10 saves for UNLV.
Series History: CSUN leads UNLV 5-3-1 in the all-time series. The teams last competed in the 2023 season when they played to a 0-0 draw in Las Vegas. CSUN last hosted UNLV in the 2018 season, falling by a 3-1 score.
#GoMatadors
Players Mentioned
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