VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : Heads-Up Play by Avila Sparks Matadors, 2-1 : College soccer: He is knocked out scoring tying goal that gets Northridge going in victory over Azusa Pacific.

Greg Avila of Cal State Northridge doesn’t remember exactly what happened but his teammates do and they are thankful for what he did.

Avila took one for the team in the Matadors 2-1 victory over Azusa Pacific on Wednesday night at North Campus Stadium.

Avila was hit on the head by goalkeeper Scott Strahammer of Azusa Pacific on a 50-50 ball in the box in the 51st minute.

Fortunately for the Matadors (4-4), Avila’s header went into the goal. Not so fortunate was Avila, who was unconscious for a few seconds after the play.

“I remember jumping up for the ball and the next thing I remember was lying on the ground,” Avila said. “I think the goalie hit me. I’m still a little dizzy, a little disoriented.”

Avila’s goal tied the game, 1-1. He did not return and was diagnosed with a stage one concussion.

His play was enough to wake his team. William Diaz broke the tie in the 83rd minute, capitalizing on a Cougar mistake.

Strahammer collided with a teammate while attempting to clear a 50-50 ball and knocked the ball to Diaz, who kicked it into the open net for the game winner.

“It was all luck,” Diaz said. “When you work hard you make your own luck.”

The Matadors won their second consecutive game and Azusa Pacific (2-5-1) lost its third in a row.

It didn’t start well for the Matadors. The Cougars were quicker, beating the Northridge to the ball consistently in the first half.

The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute. Midfielder Ryan Fridbord split two Matador defenders and just before running into the near post, he crossed the ball back to the six-yard box.

Jacob Ward raced in from the 18-yard box and headed the ball past goalkeeper Christian Perez.

Avila’s heroics erased a horrid first half in which the Matadors did not take a shot on goal until the 42nd minute and failed to communicate on numerous occasions.

“There was no energy,” Coach Terry Davila said. “I think they don’t know how to compete. A lot of it is my job. I need to prepare them better for these games.

“We have to get punched in the face before we do well. It’s like the Rocky syndrome. He has to get hit a few times before he starts fighting back. Tonight we recovered, but we are not always going to be able to do that.”

Mike Preis, Northridge’s leading scorer with seven goals, sat out the game resting an injured groin. Midfielder Danny Ortega did not play, nursing a sore hamstring, and Jon Relles left early in the game because of a sprained ankle.