After starting off the season in grand fashion, the CSUN women’s soccer team has hit a wall, losing its last four games and dropping its record to 10-5-0, 2-3-0 in the Big West Conference, falling into a tie with Pacific for fourth in the conference – both Northridge and Pacific have six points each – and with it, the final slot in the upcoming Big West Tournament.

The Matadors will have a chance to prove they are tournament worthy as they host Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Oct. 21 and UC Santa Barbara on Oct. 23. Both games are at Matador Soccer Field at 2:30 p.m.

Cal Poly comes in as the defending Big West champions and was picked by many to repeat as conference champs before the start of the season, but are now on the outside looking in, as they sit in sixth place, two points behind CSUN and Pacific, with a record of 9-6-1, 1-2-1 in the Big West.

Senior forward Becky Clark and juniors Kelsey Carroll and Shannon Day, both forwards, lead the Mustangs in scoring with six goals each. Day also leads the team in assists with six, putting her ahead in overall points with 18. Senior goalkeeper Liz Hill has recorded 68 saves and posted four shutouts. CSUN had not beaten or tied the Mustangs since 2001, when the two teams battled to a scoreless tie.

UC Santa Barbara sits behind Cal Poly with a record of 7-9-0, 1-3-0 in conference play, though they are only three points out of the final tournament spot.

Santa Barbara is led by freshman forward/midfielder Genelle Ives and junior forward Allie Kueny. Ives has scored four goals and is second on the team in assists, with five, giving her a team-leading 13 points. Kueny leads the Gauchos with six assists and three goals and has a total of 12 points. Senior goalkeeper Jamie Considine has recorded 79 saves and posted two shutouts. Santa Barbara will most likely have to win its remaining games to make the Big West Tournament.

Despite CSUN’s recent struggles, the Matadors shattered a few records, setting the school record for goals (32) and points (91) in a single season, and are three assists away from setting the record in that category as well.

Senior midfielder Brianna Monka leads the team in points (19) and is second in goals (7). Monka is two goals away from setting the single-season record for points, set in 1999, when Erin Broadwell recorded 20 points. Sophomore midfielder Kristy Krohn has 18 overall points, including a team-high eight goals.

Sunday’s game against UC Santa Barbara will also mark the final game at Matador Soccer Field for Monka and fellow seniors Alicia Coenen, goalkeeper Karen Comstock and forward Leila Pate. All four seniors will be honored before Sunday’s game.

Ivan Yeo can be reached at ivan.yeo.80@csun.edu.