Freshmen Lift CSUN to Soccer Playoff Win Over Hayward, 2-1

And the children shall lead them.

Should the Cal State Northridge soccer team advance to the NCAA Division II Final Four in December, it will be on the strength of its many talented freshmen, 2 of whom etched their names into CSUN history Saturday night during the Matadors’ 2-1, opening-round West regional playoff win over Cal State Hayward before 2,051 at North Campus Stadium.

Terry Davila, a season removed from Reseda High, and Birmingham graduate Ed Burns both scored the first goals of their college careers on assists from sophomore Jim Hofferber as 12th-ranked Northridge advanced to next Saturday’s quarterfinals in Seattle against third-ranked Seattle Pacific.

Northridge improved to 16-7. Hayward, ranked seventh, finished its season at 14-4-4.

“We got a bunch of young guys and at the beginning of the year you could tell we were inexperienced,” said Hofferber, a starter on last season’s team that lost to Southern Connecticut in the NCAA championship game. “Lately, in practice and games, these guys have been coming along.”

Davila, a midfielder, scored 22 minutes, 22 seconds into the first half. Mark Zarkowski started the play on a throw-in and Hofferber headed the ball to just inside the penalty area where Davila fired left-footed from 18 yards.

“It was a goal you dream about,” Davila said. “Right in the box, nobody on me and I just cracked it. I don’t know what got into me.”

CSUN Coach Marwan Ass’ad was thinking along those same lines when Burns scored 2:15 into the second half.

Burns, a smooth-as-sandpaper defender, took a pass from Hofferber, who was at the top of the penalty area, and drilled a 13-yard shot into the lower left corner.

“Ed is the people’s player,” Ass’ad said. “People tell me, ‘How can you play him?’ He’s all heart, hustle, plays clean and does his best. I love him.”

Both teams had 16 shots on goal. Northridge goalkeeper Jeff Blumkin recorded 9 saves and narrowly missed his eighth shutout when Larry Winfield scored for Hayward with 22:48 left after a scramble in front of the net.

The Matadors, who have 8 freshmen on their roster, will prepare for Seattle Pacific, which has appeared in the national championship game in 3 of the past 5 seasons.

If Northridge can beat Seattle Pacific on the Falcons’ artificial surface, the Matadors will advance to the Final Four and try to claim their first national title.