CSUN Draws with Fullerton in Back and Forth Affair

Saturday, September 26

Northridge, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

2-5-4, 0-1-1

Cal State Fullerton

4-2-4, 1-0-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Cal St. Fullerton	2	1	3
CSUN	1	2	3

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Draws with Fullerton in Back and Forth Affair

9/26/2026 9:50:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer earned a hard-fought point as the Matadors played Cal State Fullerton to a wild 3-3 draw on Saturday at Matador Soccer Field. The Titans took a late lead in the 73rd minute only to have CSUN equalize with four minutes left to play. Keilani Claiborne and Lia Peterson each hit their second goals of the season while Jana Akins netted her first career goal late in the match.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Titans opened the match picking up the game's first three shot attempts and two corner kicks, but the Matadors would come away with the game's first goal. In the 30th minute, CSUN played the ball inside the 18-yard line where Claiborne sent a pass to Michelle Monroy who then flicked the ball back to the center of the box. Claiborne finished the play with a right-footed shot through goalkeeper Allison Craycroft to put CSUN ahead 1-0. The Titans though bounced back with a strong end to the first half as a counterattack led to the equalizer in the 38th minute. On the play, the Titans drove the ball up the field, leading to Cassie Villanueva bringing goalkeeper Hayden Mauldin off her line and Jaidyn Williams scoring into an empty net. Less than four minutes later, the Titans' Sail Bozinovic beat the Matadors defense with multiple dribbles before finding the net from a shot just inside the box. Mauldin would save the last attack from the Titans just before halftime to keep the score at 2-1.

On the board first!

Keilani Claiborne finished the job on the assist from Michelle Monroy in the 30th minute.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/xnKfAoYkJ6
— CSUN Women's Soccer (@CSUNWSoccer) September 27, 2026

CSUN equalized again early in the second half as Ariana Lopez-Angel and Jordyn Canister set up Peterson in front of the net. After taking a few dribbles up the right sideline, Canister would deliver a cross to Peterson near the doorstep to tie the game once more with just under 35 minutes to go. Not to be outdone, the Titans again went in front at the 72:15 mark when a deflection inside the Matadors' box gave Villanueva an opportunity to tap in the go-ahead goal. The Matadors frantically looked for the tying goal in the closing minutes and would get an opportunity following a clock stoppage near midfield with four minutes to play. Sydney Lipkin helped set up the play with a long kick over the top to Yasmin Azar who flicked the ball up ahead to a streaking Akins. Craycroft came off her line but could not stop a quick shot from Akins who tied the game at 3-3. A foul from Fullerton in the final minute, gave CSUN a free kick near midfield, but the Matadors could not generate a shot in time as the game ended in a draw.

The freshman comes up clutch.

Jana Akins ties the game at 3-3 with less than four minutes to play.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/Ubrf9JzEg5
— CSUN Women's Soccer (@CSUNWSoccer) September 27, 2026

NOTES OF THE GAME

With the result, CSUN stands at 2-5-4 overall and 0-1-1 in Big West play while Cal State Fullerton is 4-2-4 overall and 1-0-1 in conference.
The Titans led in the shot count 16-11 while also holding a 9-5 advantage in shots on goal.
Fullerton finished with a 6-3 lead in corner kicks.
Each side had six fouls in the match while six total yellow cards were issued between the two teams.
Monroy, Canister, Lopez-Angel, Azar and Lipkin each had assists in the contest.
Canister had a team-high three shots in 77 minutes of action.
The group of Claiborne, Azar, Lipkin, Monroy and Alex Valente played the full 90 minutes.
Mauldin finished with six saves in goal.

ACCORDING TO COACH GINA BREWER
"We definitely had a slow start at the beginning of the game and then they got going around the 10-minute mark. Overall, so proud of them to keep having the fight and resilience to keep coming back, and to have that never say die attitude. After the slow start, the effort, energy and enthusiasm were there for the rest of the game."

UP NEXT
CSUN will hit the road the next week for the start of a three-game stretch away from home. The Matadors open the road swing against Long Beach State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

#GoMatadors