The CSUN women’s soccer team will look to extend its school record nine-game winning streak this weekend as the team prepare for two tough road matches.
Extending the streak will not be an easy task, as the team will kick off its weekend against CSU Fullerton on Oct. 7, followed by UC Riverside on Oct. 9.
Up to this point, CSUN has been nothing short of magnificent, setting the school record for consecutive wins, and doing so in dramatic fashion, featuring two, 2-1 come-from-behind wins over Navy on Sept. 2 and San Diego State on Sept. 19.
The team has also proven that it can win in convincing fashion with a 5-0 shutout against Idaho State on Sept. 4 and a 7-1 win over Loyola–Chicago at the Northern Arizona Tournament on Sept. 11. But now the Matadors will face conference rival CSU Fullerton, currently 8-3-0 and ranked No. 25 in the nation.
“We have to stay in the moment, and the moment is Fullerton,” Davila said. “Fullerton will determine what will happen (in) the next couple of weeks.”
CSUN is led by sophomore midfielder Kristy Krohn, who was named the Big West Player of the Week after extending her scoring streak to four games. Krohn scored the lone goal in the Matadors 1-0 win over Long Beach State on Oct. 2. Krohn is currently tied for the team lead in points alongside senior Brianna Monka, both with 17.
Fullerton is led by Kandace Wilson, who has scored four goals on 11 shot attempts and assisted three goals for a total of 11 points. Lisa Kosena is second on the team with three goals and two assists for a total of eight points.
Lauryn Welch leads the Titans with 14 shot attempts. Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley has 23 saves in seven starts.
Fullerton was ranked as high as No. 19 last week and had beaten then-No. 25 Utah, 4-0 on Sept. 18 at the Arizona tournament.
Fullerton, however, lost its Big West Conference opener in a 1-0 thriller to UC Riverside Oct. 2. The winning goal was headed in by Jenna Leonti in the minute 37, though the goal was actually ruled as a score by one of the Fullerton players because that player was the last one to touch the ball before it went into the net.
Davila said he knows Fullerton will come out prepared to play on Friday night.
“Fullerton is going to be ready for us,” Davila said. “We’re in for a tight battle.”
Ivan Yeo can be reached at ivan.yeo.80@csun.edu.
