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WCSUN soccer takes massive victory over Big West rivals UC Irvine

Jabes Pascual, Contributor

September 27, 2025

UCI forward Fiona Shin contests the ball from CSUN forward/midfielder during a game at Matador Field on Sept. 25, 2025.

A second-half corner kick made the difference for CSUN as they defeated UC Irvine Anteaters in a Big West Conference match on Thursday night at Matador Soccer Field. The 1-0 win gave the Matadors their first conference win at home.

UC Irvine came into the match with an unbeaten streak against the Matadors in their last six head-to-head matches. The Matadors last defeated the Anteaters back in 2019 by a minimal margin of one goal to zero.

The Matadors made first half adjustments after struggling to stop the Anteaters offensive attacks. CSUN’s offense, led by forward Cailey Jackson and midfielder Yoshi Rubalcava, marked the pace for the team’s attacking threat.

With the win, CSUN improves to (3-6-2, 1-0-1 Big West) while UC Irvine falls to (4-3-4, 1-1-0 Big West).

CSUN women’s soccer players in a post-game huddle at Matador Field after winning a game 1-0 against UCI on Sept. 25, 2025. (Gerardo Escobar)

The Anteaters offense had a strong outing in the first half, creating chances on goal and kept CSUN goalkeeper Riley Liebsack busy. Liebsack tallied her fourth clean sheet of the season, being a big difference maker in the Matadors win.

UC Irvine’s veteran defender Suus De Bakker had a chance on goal for the Anteaters as she rose for a header, hitting the crossbar in the 30^’minute of the first half.

The lone goal of the game came by CSUN midfielder/forward Cassidy Imperial-Pham in the 61’ minute of the second half, giving CSUN the lead.

“It’s a big game. I think our whole team worked hard, and it was a team effort for sure,” she said. “I knew Yoshi would place a good ball, and I was going to be there to put it away.”

Head coach Gina Brewer spoke highly of the Matadors after the victory.

“We talked about trying to be as compact as possible, both defensively and offensively,” Brewer said. “But it really just comes down to the determination from the players listening and being coachable for what we are asking them to do.”

Brewer said the team is focused going into Sunday’s matchup against the UC Riverside Highlanders.

“The reality is we play three games in a week. It’s always going to be tough, mentally and physically, to put together three different performances,” Brewer said.

CSUN will host UC Riverside in a Big West Conference clash at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28 at Matador Soccer Field, looking to continue to climb the standings. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.