After the first three games to start last season, the Cal State Northridge Matadors hadn’t gotten a single victory and only scored one goal. In 2008 however, things have changed drastically.
In their first road game of the season, the Matadors (3-0-0) defeated the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners 2-0 on Sunday night, giving them their first shutout win of the season.
‘Defensively, we started the game off pretty shaky,’ said Northridge assistant coach Derek Hanks. ‘But in the second half, it was the best defensive game we’ve had all year.’
CSUN Sophomore Farryn Townley started the scoring in the 35th minute when she put the ball past Bakersfield goalkeeper Marina Constantinou. The goal was unassisted and marked the first time this season that CSUN was able to get on the board before its opponent.
The Matadors controlled the entire first half of action, as the Bakersfield offense was only able to unload one shot, one that traveled wide of the net. The second half was much of the same story. The Roadrunners were able to get off four shots, but none of them were able to put a scare on the Matadors.
In the 71st minute of play, Northridge senior Tinamarie Lutizetti scored for the second straight game and put the Matadors up 2-0. The goal, which was assisted by freshman Brielle Slepicoff, was the second in Lutizetti’s collegiate career. It also denoted the third straight game in which the Matadors have scored more than one goal.
‘Our offense has definitely picked up its game from last season,’ said Hanks. ‘Our girls are more focused this year and are working together for a common goal.’
The offense has been helped drastically by incoming freshmen. Both Slepicoff and Nancy Aveysan, another freshman, have been instrumental in setting up goals for their Matador teammates. They lead the team in assists with three each.
‘The freshmen have stepped up and had an immediate impact this season,’ Hanks said. ‘Brielle (Slepicoff) and Nancy (Aveysan) being the assists leaders already is great for our team.’
The shutout was a first for sophomore goalkeeper Leah Elliot, now heading into her fourth career start this weekend against UNLV. Half of the credit goes to the Matador defensive line, though. Its strong outing in front of Elliot contributed to the goalie not needing to make any saves for the entire game.
‘The girls are focusing in on the little details,’ said Hanks.
Senior Kristal Phillips picked up her second yellow card of the season in the 64th minute of action. Alexandra Ngo of Bakersfield also picked up a yellow card during the game.
Overall the coaching staff seemed impressed with the victory. Hanks said that if the offense keeps on clicking like it has thus far, then Northridge expects to win a lot of games.
Townley’s goal to put the Matadors up 1-0 was the third of her career and her first in nearly two years as she missed most of the 2007 season to injury.
The Matadors will go for their fourth win of the season on Friday when they return back home to host the four-time defending Mountain West Conference champion UNLV Rebels (3-0-1) on Matador Soccer Field. The game is set for a 4:30 p.m. start.
