Senior Sunghyun Kim seems to always be involved in the Cal State Northridge’s men’s soccer squad’s (3-1-0) scoring in some form or another.
The midfielder had a team-high nine assists a season ago, and already leads the Matadors with two in the early season. And Sunday he became the striker instead of the facilitator.
Trailing by one in the second half, Kim smashed in his first goal of the season after being awarded a penalty kick off a hand-ball. CSUN’s first penalty shot of the year swung the momentum to the Matador side as they would go on to defeat UW-Milwaukee, 2-1, in the final game of the Matador Invitational.
The equalizing penalty shot came in the 56th minute of play.
In the 78th minute, Rene Anguiano’s assist set up senior forward Cameron Sims’ second goal of the year from 10 yards out, that put CSUN ahead for good. The game-winning goal was Sims’ second in as many games, and because of it, was named Big West Conference Player of the Week.
Anguiano, a true freshman midfielder, has been seeing a lot of playing time for Coach Terry Davila’s squad. The Los Angeles High product has already started in three games.
Kim, also an L.A. High product, is once again showing why he has been named All-Big West three different times. (Kim also ranked second in scoring on last year’s team.)
All in all, it was a dominant performance during the weekend tournament by CSUN and fellow-Big West school Cal State Fullerton. The Titans (3-1-0) crushed Fairleigh-Dickinson University in Sunday’s early match, 3-0, to join CSUN as co-champions of the Matador Invitational. Both teams went 2-0 in tournament play, but did not face one another.
Four Matadors were named to the All-Tournament Team – led by Kim and Sims. Senior defenders Chad Borak and Dylan Riley were also named for their defensive play.
The Matadors dominated the ball in the second half against UW-Milwaukee, and outshot the Panthers in the second half 13-6 (22-14 overall). Milwaukee, though, took seven corner kicks to CSUN’s zero in the first half. The Matadors have outshot their first four opponents.
The Matadors’ toughest challenge to date will take place when they participate in the Prego Italian Express Invitational in Dallas beginning Friday and concluding Sunday. CSUN will face the University of Tulsa and Southern Methodist University — in that order.
Both Tulsa and SMU are top programs and highly regarded nationally. Tulsa is currently ranked 21st by the NCAA, while SMU has received top 30 consideration.
The two games will test the Matadors’ national pedigree and serve as a measuring stick for Davila’s squad.
