Senior forward Farryn Townley scored her fourth goal of the season and 19th of her career, tying the school record for all-time goals, as the Matadors defeated UC Davis, 2-1, in a Big West game on Friday night.
Against the visiting Aggies (5-4-1, 0-1 Big West), the Matadors (6-5, 1-0 Big West) received a helping hand from sophomore midfielder Melissa Fernandez. With the score tied at one, Fernandez delivered her first collegiate goal in the 65th minute, which proved to be the game-winning score.
Fernandez seemed ecstatic about the goal.
“Amazing, it was such a long time coming,” Fernandez said. “I’ve worked so hard for this, just to make a goal and I’m glad I finally got it through. Hopefully it’s the start of a scoring rampage.”
Fernandez was assisted on the goal by redshirt freshman defender Amanda Smith, who picked up her second assist of the season. Smith fed a cross to Fernandez who took it from there and scratched nothing but net.
Before Fernandez relieved the anxiety of the Matador fans, Townley kicked things off by scoring in the ninth minute of the game from an assist by Jasmine Pratt. Pratt kicked a free kick that ricocheted off numerous players until Townley got a hold of the ball and kicked it to the lower corner of the net and out of the reach of the Aggies goalkeeper Kathleen Brandl.
Townley’s new record ties her with Erin Broadwell for 19 career goals.
“It feels awesome,” Townley said. “I haven’t really been keeping track, but it feels really good to start my team off for the Big West. That’s the main important thing, but it definitely feels good tying the record. When I had that goal, it was such an overwhelming feeling and I was just really excited.”
The Aggies Bridget Berman scored early in the second half with a short cross into the net, tying the game 1-1. Kiele Argente assisted on the play.
The game continued with both teams rallying back and forth trying to break the tie until Fernandez scored the game-winning goal.
As a team, CSUN recorded 14 shots with six on goal. Townley led the Matadors with five shots in the game and two on goal.
Goalkeeper Cynthia Jacobo recorded five saves in her run against the Aggies, marking her sixth win of the season and 11th of her career. She is now fifth place in school history as goalkeeper.
UC Davis finished the game with 16 shots and six on goal. Both Aggies goalkeepers saw the field Friday with Brandl and Maria Magana making two saves on the night.
In a highly physical game, both teams got into heavy foul trouble with the Matadors being flagged for 13 fouls and the Aggies getting hit with 11. UC Davis head coach Maryclaire Robinson thought there could have been more penalties called. She said she was outraged on the sideline, shouting outbursts at the referees throughout the game.
Head coach Keith West thought the referees were fair and feels Robinson was just being a good coach for her team.
“It’s a hard game, it’s very subjective, and that’s one of the best referees around,” West said. “She’s battling, we all compete and if we don’t get a call that’s right then that’s what we do.”
Sunday the Matadors faced the Pacific Tigers in their second Big West Conference match-up and that is where West’s mind is.
