CSUN Ekes Out 1-0 Soccer Win on Cardenas’ Goal

It might be a problem to some, but nobody at Cal State Northridge is arguing with the result.

The Northridge soccer team, struggling at times to finish off its scoring opportunities, made sure at least one chance was cashed in Wednesday night during a 1-0 nonconference victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in front of 613 fans at North Campus Stadium.

“We just can’t score,” said Northridge forward Gus Cardenas, who in fact did score on a penalty kick at the 52-minute 44-second mark to lift Northridge (3-1) to its third consecutive win. “We’re playing better than ever, but we just can’t score.”

Cardenas’ frustration was understandable. Northridge outnumbered the Toros in shots on goal, 21-8.

“We were just unlucky,” Northridge Coach Marwan Ass’ad said of the wasted scoring opportunities. “Their goalie did a good job.”

Cardenas’ goal was set up when the 5-foot-8, 155-pound senior was pulled down by Dominguez Hills midfielder Masahiro Fujiki just to the right of the left goal post in the penalty area.

“I took it on the line and (Fujiki) committed,” said Cardenas, who has two goals this season. “I had to push him one more step and he tripped me.”

With Dominguez Hills goalkeeper Erick Miseroy dancing back and forth on his toes in front of him awaiting the penalty shot, Cardenas coolly booted the ball into the upper-right corner of the net for the goal.

The goal followed a fine leaping save by Northridge goalkeeper Joel Entreken moments earlier on the other end of the field.

Entreken, who leads the Far West Region with an 0.24 goals-against average, finished with four saves to pick up his second complete shutout of the season and the sixth of his two-year career.

He was supported by a fine defensive effort from midfielder Terry Davila, whose hard-nose style characterized the CSUN effort.

In a scoreless yet entertaining first half, Northridge and Dominguez Hills each attempted to go on the offensive with the Matadors totaling nine shots on goal. The Toros had four.

Dominguez Hills fullback Keith Martin, injured in a tackle late in the first half, was diagnosed with a fractured right shin by the Toros’ trainer and was taken to a local hospital.

Dominguez Hills fell to 2-2.