Fall Roundup : CSUN Falls From 1st After Soccer Loss

The Cal State Northridge soccer team was booted from first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. after dropping a 1-0 decision to Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday at Dominguez Hills.

The Matadors (11-7, 5-2 in conference play) entered the game with a 1-point lead over Dominguez Hills (11-4, 5-1-1) but managed only 6 shots against goalkeeper Chris Wilson.

CSUN’s best opportunity came on a penalty kick by Steve Lazarus. Wilson dove to his right and blocked the shot, however.

“That one really hurt,” Northridge Coach Marwan Ass’ad said. “It’s like a free throw. You have to make those.”

Dominguez’s Willie Ayala, the leading scorer in the conference, scored 31 minutes into the match on an assist from Ric McKaig. It was Ayala’s 11th goal, and he was helped by a Northridge breakdown.

“We had three guys back and he was their only guy,” Ass’ad said. “Shoot, we had 4 guys if you count the goalie. They scored on a mistake by our defense. It was miscommunication.”

Ass’ad said the Matadors blew several scoring opportunities.

“We gave away five or six easy ones,” he said. “And they scored on the only chance we gave them. It was like we knew we could still beat them, but every time we got close, we said ‘Naaaaaaaah.’ ”

Northridge goalkeeper Jeff Blumkin, a sophomore, recorded 3 saves.

The Matadors have 3 CCAA games remaining.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Occidental 2, Redlands 0--Hillary Johns and Katie Luce each scored a goal to lead the Tigers in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Assn. match at Redlands.

Johns scored unassisted in the first half and Luce, on an assist by Jenny Lawrence, added an insurance goal in the second.

Occidental improved to 5-11-1.

HIGH SCHOOL WATER POLO

Royal 15, Thousand Oaks 5--Cousins Devin and Todd Hurst combined for 11 goals to lead the first-place Highlanders (11-6, 5-0) in a Marmonte League match at Thousand Oaks.

Devin Hurst led all scorers with 7 goals. Todd Hurst scored 4 and teammate Steve Robinson added 3 goals.

Royal goalkeeper Mike Joel had 11 saves.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Reseda d. Van Nuys, 12-15, 17-15, 15-8--Jennifer Marzahl had 14 kills and Imelda Hernandez had 2 service aces and 5 kills to lead Reseda in a Valley Pac-8 Conference match at Van Nuys. Deana Yeatts added 3 aces and 2 kills for Reseda (10-2, 7-1). Van Nuys is 5-3 in conference play.

Einstein Academy d. Moonigian, 15-10, 15-1, 15-5--Sandy Steiner led Einstein (3-4) with 7 kills in a nonleague match at Lanark Park.