Entering Sunday night’s game, the CSUN women’s soccer team had lost its last five meetings against UC Santa Barbara.
“Thanks for reminding me,” said CSUN head coach Keith West after his team finally came through against the Gauchos, 1-0 at Matador Soccer Field. “I haven’t forgotten about those losses.”
West’s players hadn’t forgotten either and made sure to end the losing streak, which dated back to the 2007 season.
“It feels like the monkey is off my back,” said a relieved West.
Junior defender Nicole Cruz scored the game-winning goal for the Matadors (4-7-2, 2-1-1) in the 49th minute. Cruz shot the ball to the bottom right corner of the net after sophomore defender Amanda Smith crossed the ball to the left side of the field, where Cruz was waiting.
CSUN’s five-game losing streak to UCSB included a loss in the 2009 Big West Conference tournament.
The Gauchos lead the all-time series against CSUN, 14-5.
Big West Defense
As conference play has progressed, the Matadors have stepped up their defense. In four Big West games, CSUN has allowed four goals and in only one game has an opponent scored more than a goal.
“We’ve been playing great defense all year long,” West said. “We’ve just been giving up soft goals and mistake goals.”
The Matadors’ defense is ranked second in all four defensive categories in the Big West: goals allowed (4), goals-against average (0.95), saves (21) and shutouts (1).
Leading the defense is junior goalkeeper Cynthia Jacobo, who has two games with shutouts this year.
“(The defense) is fantastic,” Jacobo said. “I love playing with this defense. They’re communicating and working as one unit.”
Since 2009, CSUN is 23-1-0 in one-goal games. This year, the team is 1-3-1 in games that have only had one goal.
Matadors climbing up the record books
Jacobo is second in wins in school history with 20, second in career shutouts with 14 and is fourth in school history in career saves with 157.
Only nine wins separate Jacobo from Jenny Willemse to become CSUN’s all-time leader in career wins. But Jacobo will have to wait until next season to pass Willemse since the Matadors only have five games remaining this season.
Joining Jacobo in the CSUN record books is senior forward Heidi Farran and junior Melissa Fernandez. Farran is tied for eighth in career goals with 10 and is ninth in career points. Fernandez is tied with four players for eighth in career assists. She has nine.