Matador underdogs become Big West Champions
The women’s soccer team finished atop the Big West rankings as the regular season champions, defeating Long Beach State 2-1 at home during senior night on Thursday.
Heading into the game, CSUN was tied for second place with UC Santa Barbara with identical 5-1-3 conference records and Cal Poly in the lead at 5-2-2. The Matador’s win, combined with Santa Barbara’s loss at UC San Diego, put CSUN in the lead and as the no. 1 seed going into the Big West playoffs.
Substitutes Lia Peterson and Jordyn Canister made the difference for the Matadors, each scoring goals in the second half.
Canister said she was excited for the team to win the No. 1 seed after being ranked second-to-last in the coaches’ preseason poll.
“I think it’s amazing that we proved everyone wrong and got first place,” Canister said. “No one believed in us, but we believed in ourselves and that’s all that matters.”
Head coach Gina Brewer said she was proud of her team for coming back from a deficit after halftime.
“They worked really, really hard all season,” Brewer said. “We had to battle back from that 1-0, and they came together and did it. It was a full team effort the entire game.”
In the first half, neither team was the aggressor as both traded shot attempts until the 27th minute when Long Beach midfielder Malea Johnson shot one past goalkeeper Riley Liebsack. The Matadors attempted four shots before the half ended, but each were saved by The Beach.
Peterson scored the equalizer nine minutes into the second half, sending the sideline and crowd into a frenzy. The goal came after a pass into the box from midfielder Cassidy Imperial-Pham, and Peterson shot low. Long Beach goalkeeper Aurora Schuck dove right but the ball rolled past her.
“We obviously needed to score,” Brewer said. “I told them, ‘We have to press high, go back early, and we’ll get the next one.’ And they did. They got the job done.”
With 16 minutes remaining, Canister scored the game-winner after catching a long pass from forward Yasmin Azar three yards away from the goal. As the ball came down, Canister lobbed it just above Schuck’s reach and into the net to clinch the win.
Canister said it was an amazing feeling to score the final goal.
“I’m super happy I was able to contribute and do my part,” Canister said. “It was a team effort, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”
The Matadors stayed aggressive and kept the ball on the opposing side for the remainder of the game. Long Beach’s only attempt to score was a corner kick in the 83rd minute that was quickly defended.
Before the game, the Matadors honored their ten seniors for their contributions to the program with a framed jersey and flowers.
“All of them have had different roles,” Brewer said. “Some captains, some leaders, some coming off the benches and some dealing with injuries. Every single one of them has been very impactful for this team and they’ve left our program in a better place than they found it.”
The Matadors get a first-round bye in the Big West playoffs and will host either UC Irvine or UC Santa Barbara at Matador Soccer Field on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
