This Friday, the Matadors (3-3-1) will look to go perfect on their current road trip and extend their two-game winning streak when they take on the University of San Diego Toreros (4-2-2).
Currently on their first winning streak of the season, the Matadors will be taking on a team that is also on a two-game winning streak.
In their previous two games, the Matadors defeated Saint Mary’s College of California and Santa Clara University, while the Toreros are coming off victories against San Jose State University and California State University of Fullerton.
During the winning streak the Matadors have outscored opponents 6-1.
However, Matadors will look to continue to rely on their defense to set up offensive opportunities.
Led by CSUN senior goalkeeper Adam Hobbs, CSUN has only allowed a total of nine goals, while USD has only given up eight.
For the season Hobbs has 24 saves and in the previous game moved into fourth in program history with 11 career shutouts, while USD’s sophomore goalkeeper Thomas Olsen as 27 saves and a 77% save rate.
The Matadors will look to continue their current offensive outburst as they are averaging 8.7 shots per game with 50% of them being shots on goal.
CSUN is currently ranked 85th in the nation in scoring defense at 1.43 and 80th in total goals with 10.
After earning his first career hat trick over the weekend, CSUN senior midfielder Carlos Gonzalez leads the team with three goals for the season and is now a threat with sophomore midfielder Steven Manios, who is second on the team with two.
However, the Toreros opponents have only a total of six assists on the eight goals allowed.
USD will look to put the pressure on the Matadors in the second, as they have taken 62 shots in that half while only allowing 37.
Shots notwithstanding, the Toreros have also gotten more corner kicks in the second half as they taken 21 while giving up 16.
The Matadors will look to finish their current three-game road trip undefeated when they play the Torero’s this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Torero Stadium.
