CSUN Shuts Out Chapman, Retains Conference Lead

After losing to Chapman College earlier in the season, one might have expected the Cal State Northridge soccer team to come up with a new plan of attack for its rematch against the Panthers at North Campus Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Matadors did nothing of the sort, sticking with their pressing offense and attacking defense to defeat Chapman, 2-0, in a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. match.

The victory kept Northridge (9-3-3, 6-1-1 in conference play) in first place in the CCAA standings, one point ahead of second-place Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and four points in front of third-place Cal State Bakersfield.

It also extended the Matadors’ home unbeaten streak in CCAA play to 32 matches, during which they have a 28-0-4 record.

“We didn’t do anything differently tonight than we did last time,” Northridge defender Terry Davila said. “We pretty much controlled the match last time, but this time Number 17 didn’t make two unbelievable shots.”

Chapman halfback Brian Wilson had shocked Northridge with two goals from long range in the Panthers’ 2-1 overtime victory earlier this season, but the Matadors’ defense kept him in check this time.

Davila, a sophomore from Reseda High, scored the Matadors’ first goal at the 25-minute, 25-second mark of the first half. Freshman Bobby Guerrero added another goal 20 minutes into the second half on an assist from Jim Hofferber.

Davila capitalized on a Chapman miscue to score his third goal of the season. After repelling a Northridge attack, the Panthers (6-8-3, 1-5-1) got sloppy with their passes and Davila found himself alone with the ball 30 yards in front of the Chapman net. From there he fired a shot past goalie Keri Bello.

“We work on that all the time in practice,” Davila said. “(Coach Marwan Ass’ad) always tells us to stay near the goal in that situation, because sometimes good things happen. It did then.”

Guerrero’s goal came at the 64:59 mark and was also his third of the season. He took the lead pass from Hofferber and dribbled 10 yards down the left sideline before firing.

The shutout was the sixth of the season for Northridge and the fourth of the year for goalie Mike Littman, who had nine saves.