Northridge, Master’s College Battle to a Scoreless Standoff
Back and forth. Collision after collision. One hundred and 20 minutes.
No goals.
That was the scene Tuesday night at North Campus Stadium as the Cal State Northridge and The Master’s College men’s soccer teams played to a scoreless draw in a nonconference game.
Despite the lack of offense, the action was crisp and the competition fierce. The Matadors, an NCAA Division I team, and the Mustangs, an NAIA outfit, awoke from a calculated pace in the first half and went at each other for the remaining 75 minutes.
“I liked our intensity,” Northridge Coach Marwan Ass’ad said. “Sooner or later we’ll get it together [on offense]. We just need more games.”
Missing for the Matadors (0-1-1) is forward Kris Swanson, a junior transfer from Mission College who is ineligible until Northridge officials receive a complete transcript from his former school.
Asked if Swanson’s absence had an effect on his team, Ass’ad uttered a loud curse and spit on the ground.
“No [kidding]!” the coach said. “[Swanson] can score. We needed him and it’s his fault his didn’t get [the transcript] taken care of.”
Without Swanson, freshman forward Mike Preis was left alone to battle Andrew Williams, The Master’s standout sweeper. The pair ran each other ragged, Williams matching the speedy Preis stride for stride and utilizing an advantage in size.
“If we didn’t have Andrew we’d be in a world of trouble,” Master’s Coach Jim Rickard said. “He tackles well and he stays with people. I told [Preis] after the game that you can’t cheat experience like [Williams’].”
Northridge started fast and had its best offensive opportunity in the 18th minute when midfielder Luis Castro bounced a direct kick off the left post.
But although the Matadors had the more obvious scoring chances, the Master’s (1-1-1), behind midfielders Paul Dojo, Joel Murphy and Jason Hampton, maintained tighter control of the ball.
“We moved the ball around well,” Rickard said. “And if we can do it against these guys we can do it against anybody.”
