Matadors Set to Play Kansas Next Season

Cal State Northridge has signed to play football at Kansas on Sept. 11, Matador Athletic Director Sam Jankovich announced Thursday.

The Matadors will receive a $200,000 guarantee, largest in school history.

It will be the second game against a Division I-A team next season for the I-AA Matadors, who will play Southern Methodist on Nov. 13 at the Cotton Bowl for a $100,000 guarantee.

“This is another step in our program’s progress,” Matador Coach Ron Ponciano said.

BOXING

Fernando Vargas of Oxnard will defend his International Boxing Federation junior-middleweight title against Howard Clarke on March 13 at Madison Square Garden. The bout will be on the undercard of the heavyweight championship unification bout between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.

Vargas is 15-0 with 15 knockouts. Clarke is 26-10-2 with eight knockouts.

BASKETBALL

Kristi Rose, a 6-foot-5 junior center from Palmdale High, needs five blocks to break the career record for blocked shots at Utah.

Rose, a Times’ All-Valley selection at Palmdale in 1995-96, is averaging 1.4 blocks for the Utes (18-4) with four games and the Western Athletic Conference tournament still to play. Rose averages 7.8 points and 4.9 rebounds.

SOCCER

Amy Watts, a four-year starter at Chaminade High, said Thursday she has signed with Northridge.

A midfielder, Watts helped the Eagles to consecutive Southern Section Division III titles.

She is among the highest-profile players the Matadors have signed in their four-year history.

The Big Sky Conference announced it will be among 22 conferences with a champion receiving automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I women’s championships.

Northridge is among eight teams in the Big Sky, which recently concluded its second women’s season.

TENNIS

Gary Victor, the Cal State Northridge women’s coach, has been selected California Division coach of the year by the U.S. Professional Tennis Assn.

Victor guided the Matadors to a 17-6 record last season, the most victories and highest winning percentage (.739) for Northridge since it joined Division I in 1991.

The award will be presented to Victor at a banquet Sunday at the Industry Hills Sheraton Resort and Conference Center in Industry Hills.