CSUN Shrugs Off San Diego With Overtime Goal, 2-1 : College soccer: Matadors tie school record with 11th home victory in a row as Reyes scores in first extra session.

The playoff picture might appear out of focus at this juncture, but the Cal State Northridge soccer team proved Saturday night that it plays with more than the postseason in mind.

Battling intermittent rains and a determined club from UC San Diego, the Matadors remained unbeaten at home this season with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Toreros before 403 at North Campus Stadium.

“At this point we’re playing for pride,” said Northridge forward Bobby Reyes, who scored the game-winner with an 18-foot shot in the first overtime. “There is some hope (for the playoffs), but we’re just trying to finish 14-5-1.”

The Matadors (10-5-1) won their seventh consecutive home match this season and tied a school record with their 11th consecutive home victory dating to last season. They also avenged a 1-0 loss to San Diego (5-9) last year.

“You don’t have to play for the playoffs to play hard,” said Northridge Coach Marwan Ass’ad, who refused to discount a postseason berth despite his team’s 3-4-1 record against Division I teams on the road. “The guys want to win.”

Reyes, a 5-foot-8, 153-pound senior from Culver City High, took a pass from Paul Bay and drove toward the goal with a defender in close pursuit about four minutes into the first overtime.

From about 18 yards to the right of the goal, Reyes faked inside, took the ball outside and drilled a low shot with the right foot past goalkeeper Scott Garlick for his fifth goal of the year at the 94-minute 11-second mark.

“I was one on one with the sweeper,” Reyes said. “He came and cut me off, I dipped left, he bit, and I was able to get a hard shot off.”

The Matador defense secured the victory in a frantic second overtime period in which San Diego went on the offensive. The Toreros’ best scoring opportunity came on a free kick by Paul Gelvezon from 25 yards that sailed over the crossbar.

Northridge goalkeeper Joel Entreken finished with five saves.

“I like the defense,” Ass’ad said. “Every game we’ve played, we’ve fought our hearts out. San Diego is a top Division I team and this is the way we played against everyone this year.”

Northridge opened the scoring at the 29:09 mark on midfielder Belete Bekele’s sixth goal.

The goal was set up when Danny Daniels picked up a loose ball and passed upfield to Reyes. Reyes darted past one defender and dribbled the ball to within 10 yards of the goal before smoothly dishing the ball off to an undefended Bekele, who beat Garlick handily.

But San Diego didn’t give Northridge much time to celebrate the goal. The Toreros took advantage of a free kick to tie the score, 1-1, on a goal by freshman Doug Barry at 31:02.

Gelvezon, San Diego’s leading scorer, set up the goal when he blasted the free kick over the CSUN defensive wall. The ball bounced off the goal post and Barry charged in and booted the ball into the net.

When the teams came out for the second half, the rains had subsided, but the field conditions remained rough.

Northridge outshot San Diego, 5-2, in the second half, much of the action taking place near midfield.

Northridge outshot San Diego, 14-9, including an 8-6 advantage on shots on goal.