For the fourth time this season the Matadors lost in overtime, but this time it cost them the season.
To make matters worse, CSUN eliminated itself from playoff contention on an own goal with only 19 seconds left in the second overtime period against UC Santa Barbara as the Matadors fell to the Gauchos 3-2 Tuesday night at Matador Soccer Field and missed the Big West Tournament for the second consecutive season.
“I don’t know what it is,” midfielder and co-captain Rafael Garcia said. “I don’t know if it’s a fucking curse or what the fuck, you know? Like (CSUN head coach Terry Davila) says, we deserve good things in our lives.”
It was a valiant effort by Davila and his squad, but it wasn’t enough. After playing with 10 men since the 55th minute and down 2-1, CSUN (7-8-3, 3-4-2 Big West) scored an equalizing goal in the 89th minute to keep its season alive.
The own goal was knocked in by Matador defender Luis Gutierrez, as he tried to clear the ball away from the net, but instead sent it into the back in the 110th minute.
CSUN owns an overtime record of 0-4-3 and a win from one of the extra period games could have changed its season.
“Losing to Riverside the last couple of minutes, losing to Davis in the last couple of minutes; those are the games we should have had. Those were our games,” Davila said about CSUN’s inability to win in close games. “It was a valiant effort to stay in the game. There’s a lot riding on this game, but we didn’t lose it tonight. The Davis and Riverside games are when we lost the Big West playoffs.”
The match was physical, with two yellow cards and a red card given to CSUN, and one yellow card to UCSB (12-5-1, 5-4). Matador midfielder Rene Anguiano received his red card after going for a 50-50 challenge with Gaucho midfielder Fifi Baiden that resulted in Baiden being carried off the pitch.
“It was too quick of a red card,” Davila said. “I was just done by the bench and the referee had to make a decision. He made it, and I don’t blame him for making it. It’s tough.”
CSUN lost two key defenders in the first half. Israeli defender Yuval Barak had to be taken of the match after sustaining a cut to the head. Senior Jeremy Hohn replaced Barak, but found himself being carried off the pitch after UCSB midfielder Rey Ezra-Simbwa gave him a hard tackle, which earned himself a yellow card in the 36th minute.
Gaucho midfielder Josue Madueno scored the first goal of the match, putting UCSB up 1-0 in the 17th minute. Forward Sam Garza’s through ball found Madueno in the box and junior found the back of the net.
Matador midfielder Alberto Rosas found the equalizer for CSUN in the 44th minute. Defender Taylor Bowlin cross was deflected by a Gaucho defender and ended up at the feet of Rosas.
At that point, the sophomore squared up and attempted a powerful shot from about 25 yards out. It made its way out of UCSB goalkeeper Andre Grandt’s hands and put Northridge on the board.
Filled with emotion about the loss, co-captain Joe Franco couldn’t find the right words to express his feelings.
“I mean shoot…damn. Oh my god. I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know what else you’re supposed to do to get a win. But it is what it is.”
With the win, UC Santa Barbara clinched a spot in the four-team Big West Tournament.
CSUN now plays a meaningless game at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday to end the season.
