The women’s soccer team lost two matches over the weekend to see its school record nine-match winning streak and seven-game road winning streak come to an end.

The Matadors entered the Soccer Buzz regional rankings at No. 14 before embarking on a four game road trip. The team lost its first match to CSU Fullerton 2-0 on Oct. 7 and then fell to the nationally ranked UC Riverside 1-0 on Oct. 9.

The Matadors are playing 10 of 11 matches on the road and will continue their road trip as they travel to Stockton to take on University of the Pacific. The team will then square off against UC Davis.

The Matadors fell to 10-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play, unable to secure a goal in either match.

After the weekend the Matadors remained in fourth place in the Big West Conference behind first place UCR, second place Long Beach State and third place CSU Fullerton. In the game against UCR, the Matadors gave up their only goal on a shot from 20 yards out in minute 16. CSUN took seven total shots compared to UCR’s nine. Both teams committed 12 penalties in the game.

The Highlanders won a season-high five games in a row and are 3-0 in the Big West Conference for the first time in school history. UCR now leads the head-to-head series with the Matadors 3-2.

Against the Fullerton Titans the Matadors gave up goals in minute six and minute 72. In minute six Fullerton made a short pass in front of the net, shooting the ball past the left post. In minute 72 Fullerton scored on a corner kick that was headed inside the right post. Matadors keeper April Cline came up with four more saves before the game ended.

The Matadors were out shot 20-9 throughout the match as Fullerton committed 11 fouls compared with the Matadors’ six. Both teams had six corner kicks, with three in each period. The Titans now lead the all-time series against the Matadors 8-1.

As the Matadors continue conference play, it will not be easy according to the Soccer America publication. Big West women’s soccer teams compiled a better non-conference winning percentage than any other conference on the West Coast, including the Pac-10 and West Coast Conference. The Big West has won non-conference contests at a .665 (53-25-7) clip, which is better than all major conferences with the exception of the ACC (.718).

Malik Lee can be reached at malik.lee@csun.edu.