CSUN women’s soccer secured a 2-2 draw against UNLV Sunday at Matador Soccer Field.
The Matadors came into the game with a 1-4-1 record, having not scored in their previous match against San Jose State. UNLV also possessed a 1-4-1 record heading into this game, with both teams searching for their second win.
The first half was a stalemate with both teams taking several shots on their respective goals. Goalkeeper Hayden Mauldin tallied two saves during the half for CSUN and forward Yasmin Azar finished the half with the Matadors’ only shot on goal.
The deadlock was broken midway through the second half, as UNLV forward Kaitlin Taylor scored in the 60th minute. The Matadors tied the game up just 30 seconds later, forward Jordyn Canister received an assist from defender Michelle Monory for the equalizer.
Head coach Gina Brewer said the Matadors looked to attack UNLV from the wide areas rather than playing centrally, which helped create Canister’s equalizer.
“We were trying to play in behind into some of the one-v-one situations that we thought we could really challenge them at wide,” Brewer said. “Jordyn Canister obviously scored that one goal from the wide space.”
UNLV took the lead back on a goal in the 73rd minute by forward Tatum Jackson. The goal was assisted by Taylor and gave the Rebels a 2-1 lead.
CSUN defender Siena Navarra came back into the game in the 81st minute and seized the open rebound off a corner kick less than sixty seconds later to slam home the equalizer and tie the game at 2-2 for CSUN.
“I went back in from coming out, and I just really wanted to score to at least get a tie and try to get the win,” Navarra said. “I was just waiting pretty much for the second ball and trying to find where it was going to bounce, and just happened to get my foot on it.”
Navarra added that the Matadors’ ability to respond after falling behind twice showed the team’s mentality.
“I think it shows good mentality and a lot of grit, we were able to come back and respond really well instead of letting our heads get low and not responding, and just keep trying till the end,” Navarra said.
The result left the Matadors with a 1-4-2 record and their second straight tie. CSUN fired 13 shots to UNLV’s 12 and both teams ended with five corner kicks.
The Matadors will now turn their attention to a two-game road trip in Utah to close out non-conference play.
“We have a tough road trip next week. We’re playing two games in Utah,” Brewer said. “We’ll continue our last two non-conference games, and then we come back home to start our Big West Conference.”
CSUN’s next match will be against Utah Tech on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George, Utah. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
