Following almost two weeks of rest and recovery, the CSUN women’s soccer team will look to keep the scoring up when it returns to action Friday afternoon in a visit to crosstown foe Loyola Marymount.
“It’s going to be a good one,” CSUN head coach Keith West said. “I think they’re No. 32 or 33 in the RPI (NCAA rankings) right now. We match up great with them. Look at all the teams we’ve matched up with — we played great, we just need to score more.”
The Matadors (1-5-1) used the layoff to work on finishing their scoring opportunities, West said.
CSUN only scored one goal through the first four games of the season (all losses), but the offense has picked up since. In their last three games, the Matadors have recorded five scores.
“We’ve got to score goals,” West said. “Every team we played so far, I felt like we were in the game. If we just put a couple away, the game changes. We’re getting great opportunities and great chances, but if you can’t score, you can’t win.”
Senior forward Heidi Farran is CSUN’s leading goal scorer with three goals. The Matadors are averaging 0.86 goals per game and have a .079 goal-per-shot percentage, having scored six goals on 76 shot attempts.
LMU, on the other hand, has no problem with scoring.
The Lions (6-2-1) have a total of 14 goals and have been shut out only once this season, during a 0-0 tie vs. Fresno State.
The Lions are averaging 1.56 goals per game and have a .136 shot percentage, 14 goals out of 103 shot attempts. Sophomore forward Tawni Martino and senior midfielder/defender Brittney Sanford lead the Lions with three goals apiece.
It will not be easy for CSUN to score on LMU. The Lions have shut their opponents out six out of nine times. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Brittany Jagger has been spectacular at the net this season with a save percentage of .898 and a goals-against average of 0.60.
The Lions have had two three-game winning streaks in 2011 and are coming into the match against the Matadors looking to start a new one following a 3-1 loss to No. 2 UCLA on Saturday.
LMU leads the series history 10-2, but CSUN won the last meeting (3-0) in 2009.
The Lions will not be the Matadors’ only challenge this weekend. CSUN will host Portland on Sunday.
The Pilots (4-4-1) are not as potent on offense as LMU is. Portland has eight goals this season on 119 shot attempts (.067 shot percentage) and is averaging 0.89 goals per game.
Senior forward Danielle Foxhoven is leading the Pilots with five goals for the season.
“I’m looking forward to it,” West said. “I know Portland’s not having the best year, but they’re still a great side. They’re a great team.”
The Matadors will try to take advantage of Portland’s winless road record. The Pilots are 0-3 away from home, a streak they’ll look to break at UC Irvine tonight.
Portland beat the Matadors 2-1 the first and only time the teams played each other, last year.
This will be the last chance for the Matadors to iron out any wrinkles before Big West Conference play starts on Sept. 30.
