The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

Loading Recent Classifieds...
The Girls Who Code club met together in Sierra Hall, on Friday, Sept. 15, in Northridge, Calif. Club members played around with a program to create a virtual game.
The CSUN club that’s encouraging women in STEM
Miya Hantman, Reporter • September 18, 2023

CSUN’s Girls Who Code club is just one of many across many campuses and countries, including 110 in...

Students form a crowd for DJ Mal-Ski on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 in Northridge, Calif.
Matador Nights carnival makes a splash at the USU
Ryan Romero, Sports Editor • September 21, 2023

The University Student Union hosted “Matador Nights” on Sept. 8 from 7 p.m. to midnight. The event...

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock by FiledIMAGE.
Women’s Soccer has Closed the Competitive Gap
Luis Silva, Reporter • September 19, 2023

There is no longer a significant competitive gap in the sport of women’s soccer. There is a brighter...

The line for concert merchandise on the second night of The Eras Tour in Paradise, Nev., on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
My experience at The Eras Tour
Miley Alfaro, Sports Reporter • September 18, 2023

It’s been a long time coming. I began watching The Eras Tour, Taylor Swift’s ongoing concert trek,...

Within the Oaxacan town of Asuncion Nochixtlan, we find my mother’s birthplace, Buena Vista. Photo taken July 29, 2023.
I Love Being Mexican
September 12, 2023
A student holds up a sign during a rally outside of the CSU Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach, Calif., on Sept. 12, 2023.
CSU board approves tuition increase amid protests
Trisha Anas, Editor in Chief • September 15, 2023

The California State Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a 6% tuition increase for the next five...

group of mena and women touching hands
Miracles In Action Restores Patients’ Lives and Actualizes their Potential

Athletes abide by superstitions to further their success

Athletes and athletic teams are known for being superstitious. Although a team’s success is attributed to practicing and training constantly, players and coaches cling to superstitions as part of the equation to winning.

You have seen this in professional sports. Whether it would be Michael Jordan wearing his North Carolina shorts under his uniform every game or even as weird as the famous baseball player Wade Boggs eating a chicken before every game, superstitions hold true for individuals.

The CSUN women’s soccer team may attest to this as they are coming off an impressive season finishing as the 2016 Big West conference league champions.

The soccer team has many superstitions they find themselves holding onto, as well as some individual ones.

Former CSUN goalie Cynthia Jacobo, is now the new lady Matadors goalkeeeper entering her second season. Jacobo arrived at CSUN midway through her freshman year for the 2009 season. She earned All-Big West honors in all three of her playing seasons, including Big West Goalkeeper of the Year in 2011.

As far as superstitions go, she believes sticking to them is why the Matadors have been sustaining success. Jacobo shared some history about one superstition which has been with the Matadors for years.

“The starters, and the girls who are on the bench will stand behind each other holding hands for the national anthem,” Jacobo said. “They link arms while they kick there right foot back against their teammate’s shin guard and once it is at the end, the end person will begin the same trend working its way back up to where the chain started.”

Individual traditions are also a large part of the women’s team as well.

Sophomore midfielder Gabriella Hinojosa, shared how she always has to write a Bible verse, Psalm 46:5, on her right arm or she feels she will not play well in a game.

“It was a crazy experience rushing to find our athletic trainer Matt Brandt, to have him give me a sharpie before we started warming up against University of San Diego.” Hinojosa said. “In that moment it totally slipped my mind to write my verse on my arm, I felt as if I couldn’t function once I realized I forgot to write it.”

Freshman midfielder, Payton Jo Armijo, said team members who share an apartment do a little ritual before each game. Whether that would be huddle up and do a handshake, or get your group together and do a certain dance.

“We just want to have fun with it,” Payton said.

Entering the upcoming Big West conference games, the Matadors may need all the superstitions to keep them as close as they can be to defend their title once again.

More to Discover