CSUN women’s soccer broke last season’s school record for consecutive wins with seven, as the team beat the University of San Francisco and Sacramento State over the weekend.

The two wins vaulted the Matadors to the top of the Big West Conference with a daunting record of 8-1, one victory ahead of second-place Long Beach State.

The Matadors took the first match of the weekend from Sacramento State by a score of 4-1. Sophomore midfielder Kristy Krohn scored two of the four goals for CSUN to solidify the win.

Although the Matadors won the game by a comfortable margin, the first half gave CSUN a scare as the Hornets jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. In minute 13, sophomore forward Katie McCoy precisely placed a ball past Matador goalkeeper April Cline for her first goal of the season.

With only 10 minutes left in the first half the Matadors came alive. Senior Brianna Monka received a pass from freshman Kristal Phillips at the top of the penalty box. Monka then sent a ball in front of the breaking sophomore Mary Ortega who fired a laser past Hornet goalkeeper Jenny Lawrence, leveling the game at 1-1.

The Matador attack was not finished as only a minute later junior Sara Davis angled a free kick just under the crossbar and into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead, her second of the season, and ultimately the game-winner.

The Matadors Krohn added two insurance goals in the second half to thwart the Hornets chances of playing the spoiler to CSUN’s consecutive games-won record. CSUN out-shot Sacramento State 21-15, and Cline added five saves in the victory.

Following the Sacramento State game the Matadors took a short trip across the bay to play San Francisco, Sept. 25. The Matadors would not need much to achieve its consecutive-games-won record as Krohn’s goal in minute 49 proved to be enough for CSUN to claim its eighth win of the season and its seventh consecutive.

Krohn received a pass from Monka who then broke from her defender and knocked a shot past goalkeeper Kelly Pohle for a 1-0 advantage. The goal was Krohn’s third in two games, and she now leads the Matadors in goals scored with six. Cline came up big with five saves, notching her third shutout of the season.

The Dons out-shot the Matadors 8-7 with six shots on goal compared to four for CSUN. Monka led the team with two shot attempts.

The Matadors will host conference play against UC Irvine at home on Sept. 30 and finish the weekend against Long Beach State on Oct. 2. The Matadors will enter Big West play possessing the best record of the conference.

The Anteaters are at the bottom of the conference standings with a record of 2-7-1 while, CSUN’s Sunday opponent is hot on the heels of the Matadors with a record of 7-1-1.

Matt Osias can be reached at sports_sundial@csun.edu.