After beating a tough Loyola Marymount team on Friday, the CSUN women’s soccer team went toe-to-toe with Portland and took the Pilots into overtime, but a golden goal 28 seconds into the extra period handed the Matadors a 1-0 loss at Matador Soccer Field on Sunday afternoon.
Sophomore forward Amanda Frisbie scored the winning-goal for Portland (5-5-1). The shocking goal left some Matadors (2-6-1) bitter.
“They got lucky,” junior forward Melissa Fernandez said. “They beat one player and passed it to another player and got lucky.”
CSUN outshot the Pilots 16 to nine, but could not connect on any of their opportunities.
Senior defender Nicole Cruz had a chance to put CSUN ahead 1-0, but her rebound opportunity was pushed away by Portland goalkeeper Hailee DeYoung.
The Matadors dodged a bullet in the 44th minute after a CSUN defender cleared a loose ball that was roaming around the net.
CSUN continued to put pressure on the Pilots in the second half with many chances to go ahead. Junior midfielder Marie Hirsch made her way into the penalty box and shot the ball right at a diving DeYoung, who saved the shot.
“Today my shots were terrible,” Fernandez said. “But at least I’m getting the shots off.”
With one minute left in regulation, Fernandez was fouled just outside the penalty box and was given a free kick. The Matadors’ shot was blocked out of bounds and was given another opportunity with a corner kick. Again, the Matadors could not put the ball in the back of the net after the corner kick was cleared to midfield.
Even though the Matadors did not pull out a victory, they were satisfied with the way they played.
“I thought we were very good,” CSUN head coach Keith West said. “We just need to finish our opportunities.”
Fernandez led the Matadors with two shots on goal and five shots total.
Junior goalkeeper Cynthia Jacobo had two saves for the day and was not challenged for most of the game until the game-winning goal.
Senior forward Danielle Foxhoven had two of the Pilots’ four shots on goal. DeYoung had an outstanding game in front of the net for Portland, saving all nine shots that came her way, including a couple of diving saves.
This was the Matadors’ last chance to work out any wrinkles before Big West Conference play starts on Thursday at Pacific.
