Reyes Reaches His Goal in CSUN’s Soccer Win

In a soccer match dominated by defense, it seemed fitting that the lone goal of Wednesday’s California Collegiate Athletic Assn. game between Cal State Northridge and Cal State Dominguez Hills would result from picture-perfect passing by the Matadors and a textbook follow shot by Bobby Reyes.

Reyes, a sophomore, started and ended the scoring play, which came with three minutes left and gave Northridge a 1-0 victory at Dominguez Hills.

Taking the ball at midfield, Reyes fed Robert Guerrero with a pass down the left sideline. Guerrero dribbled the ball an additional 30 yards, then lofted a left-footed crossing pass in front of the goal to a hard-charging Jim Hofferber, whose header was blocked by goalkeeper Chris Wilson.

Wilson was unable to control the ball, however, and Reyes blasted in the rebound for his second goal of the season.

“That was a play we’ve worked on a lot in practice,” said Reyes, whose first goal gave Northridge a 2-1 overtime victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. “We’re taught to never give up on a ball. Every time a shot goes, we’re supposed to follow it up until the goalkeeper has it.”

Before Reyes’ goal, the Matadors (6-3-2, 3-1 in CCAA play) appeared headed for their fifth overtime of the season.

Northridge had outshot Dominguez Hills (6-5-1, 0-2-1), 13-10, before the winning goal, but only one of those shots--besides Hofferber’s--was of a high percentage.

That occurred three minutes into the match when sophomore Terry Davila had a one-on-one opportunity against Wilson, but his shot hit the goalkeeper in the legs and the ball bounced away.

For the next 84 minutes, the Matadors took a dozen shots on goal, but an aggressive Dominguez Hills defense (the Toros committed 15 fouls) prevented Northridge from scoring until Reyes’ goal.

Northridge goalkeeper Mike Littman made six saves to record his second shutout of the season.