With a two-game losing streak the Cal State Northridge women’s soccer team is looking for a new slate before heading into the Big West play as they host the University of San Diego Monday night at Matador Field.
In a defensive struggle, the Matadors (4-5) were conquered by the University of Pennsylvania 1-0, and thrashed by sixth-ranked Texas A&M in a 5-0 blowout.
In order to start winning again senior forward Farryn Townley believes that the team just needs a confidence boost.
“We just need to build our confidence back up,” Townley said. “We could have beaten both teams. It is really just confidence and having the mindset that we can win and put goals in the back of the net and not being scared. I think it’s important to get a win in before we start the league so we can get our confidence back. San Diego’s a really good team and by beating them I think it would really help us going into league.”
The Matadors will have their hands full tonight when they play the Toreros (5-2-2) who are coming off great offensive and defensive performances this season. The team has outshot their opponents 89-85 and leads their opponents in goals scored with 15-6. The Toreros goalkeepers have protected the net courageously with 43 saves on the season compared to their opponents 32.
Last year the Matadors and the Toreros met in the season opener at the University of San Diego and the Matadors were defeated 3-0. Head coach Keith West thinks getting revenge for last season would be great but his focus is more on this year’s team.
“(Revenge) is always nice after a team beats you 3-0 but last year’s team is last year’s team, this is a new season and they’re (San Diego) a good team and a quality opponent and we just have to do what we do,” West said. “We can’t get caught up in going after wins, we have to go after wins that we know we can win and this is a game I know we can win.”
In order to get revenge the Matadors will have to go up against San Diego’s top players and one of those players is a recent WCC Co-Player of the Week junior forward Stephanie Ochs. Ochs this season has been a phenomenal player for the Toreros scoring five goals with three coming in one game from a hat trick against Portland State University. She has also dished two assists to give her a total of 12 points for the year.
In her career at the University of San Diego, Ochs has been named first team All-WCC, All-WCC Honorable Mention and in her freshman year made the All-WCC Freshman team. Last season, she scored three game-winning goals leading her team to a trip to the NCAA Tournament. In all, Ochs has recorded 14 goals, connected with teammates for 12 assists and will definitely be a force to reckon with come game night.
The Matadors are not concerned as much since they have had over a week’s rest before playing the Toreros. West feels that the rest should absolutely help the team and give them an advantage going into the game.
Senior defender Jasmine Pratt believes the rest will grant plenty of help going into the match.
“Having a week’s rest we can get some good training and we can go hard knowing that we have a few days to recover,” Pratt said. “We can get some conditioning in, get some ball work, just go hard on our bodies and then get some rest in.”
With the match against the Toreros being the last game before the Big West Conference play Pratt said that if the team does win it would mean a lot.
“All the pre-season games are equally as important.” Pratt said. “University of San Diego was ranked in the top 20 earlier in the pre-season polls, so this is going to be a good win for us to get our feet rolling again right into (conference) season, so it will be a big win.”
After the Matadors face the Toreros, they will host the Big West opponent UC Davis on Friday at Matador Field.
