CSUN Rallies Late to to Knock Off Long Beach State, 4-3

Wednesday, September 30

Long Beach, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

3-5-4, 1-1-1

Long Beach State

6-2-4, 0-1-2

Team	1	2	Final F
CSUN	1	3	4
Long Beach St.	0	3	3

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Rallies Late to to Knock Off Long Beach State, 4-3

9/30/2026 10:36:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

LONG BEACH, Calif.---CSUN Women's Soccer scored twice over the final 13-plus minutes to defeat Long Beach State a 4-3 on Wednesday evening at George Allen Field. Moments after Jana Akins scored a game-tying penalty kick, Lia Peterson would score the game-winning goal in the 84th minute for CSUN. Yasmin Azar netted her fourth goal of the season earlier in the match and finished with two assists while Jordyn Canister added a goal and an assist in the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Each side would own leads in a wild back-and-forth match on Wednesday. The Matadors struck first in the eighth minute of action as Azar set up the play with a drive up the left side of the box, leading to Canister scoring on a header in front of the goal. CSUN's defense remained strong for the remainder of the first half, blanking the Beach despite nine shot attempts while Mauldin had two saves in the period.

MATADOR GOAL!

Goal No. 3 on the season for Jordyn Canister as CSUN takes an early lead at Long Beach. #GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/U4kcYjInC7
— CSUN Women's Soccer (@CSUNWSoccer) October 1, 2026

After just one goal scored in the first half, the second half would see a combined six goals between the two teams. The Beach found the equalizer in the 48th minute shortly after a corner kick, as a failed clearance led to Radisson Banks picking up the loose ball on the left and scoring inside the far post. However, the Matadors had a quick response less than five minutes later when Canister made a long drive up the right sideline and found a streaking Azar for CSUN's second goal of the night. The game though was leveled once more in the 56th minute following a Beach free kick. A service inside the box found a pair of touches before Olivia Yu finished the play near the goal line to tie the game up at 2-2.

The seesaw battle continued in the ensuing minutes as the Beach took their first lead of the night in the 62nd minute, capitalizing off a CSUN miscue at the goal. Kyle Perez would get credit for the goal after a long high-arching shot sailed toward the waiting hands of Mauldin, but a misplay at the goal line led to the ball hitting the net. Mauldin though bounced back to record three of her seven saves in the contest over the remaining minutes of the match, helping keep the Matadors within striking distance.

CSUN looked for the equalizer down the stretch, eventually catching a break when the Beach committed a foul in its own box, resulting in a penalty kick. Akins would be called upon to take the penalty kick and calmly hit the back of the net, tying the match with 13:11 to play. Down the stretch, the Matadors found another scoring chance when a give-and-go up the middle of the field led to Azar finding Peterson at the top of the box. Peterson sent a low shot at the right post that bounced into the net, putting the Matadors ahead again at 4-3. In the 88th minute, CSUN would lose a player when Sydney Lipkin was assessed a red card, but the Matadors survived a pair of last second chances from the Beach to secure the victory.

Lia, our hero!

The give and go leads to Yasmin Azar finding Lia Peterson with a go-ahead goal in the 84th minute. #GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/jBP1x36rNa
— CSUN Women's Soccer (@CSUNWSoccer) October 1, 2026

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN improves to 3-5-4 overall along with a 1-1-1 in Big West play. Long Beach State slips to 6-2-4 overall and 0-1-2 in conference.
Mauldin finished with seven saves in goal.
Akins' goal was her second in as many matches.
Azar now leads the team with four goals and five assists after posting four points on Wednesday.
Canister and Peterson each scored their third goals of the season.
The Beach finished with a 24-12 lead in shots and 8-3 edge in shots on goal.
Long Beach State also led 6-3 in corner kicks.
A total of 24 fouls were called in the match with CSUN whistled for 13. Four total cards were issued between the two teams.

ACCORDING TO COACH GINA BREWER
"So proud of the resilience, fight, and beautiful goals to continue to come back and to find a way to get three points. We still have to improve our focus and discipline defensively, but we will get back to work and be ready to go for another Big West showdown at Bakersfield on Saturday!"

UP NEXT
The Matadors stay on the road to take on Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.

#GoMatadors