Matadors Get First Conference Victory Against Portland State
Cal State Northridge has had one major problem in Big Sky Conference games: playing down to its opponents’ level. But that wasn’t the case in Friday’s women’s soccer game against Portland State at North Campus Stadium.
Although the Matadors played a sluggish first half, they broke through in the second half in a 3-0 conference victory over winless Portland State in Northridge.
“We knew coming into this game we had to win,” said midfielder Jennifer Fish. “I don’t think we swooped down to their level.”
The Matadors (5-5-5, 1-1-2) inched back to .500. Portland State (0-15-0, 0-4-0), among the worst teams in Division I, extended its school-record losing streak to 20 games, dating to last season. The Vikings have been outscored by 53 goals.
“We just knew we had to win. We knew we could score more goals,” said midfielder Shannon DeVos. “There was a sense of urgency. We knew if we didn’t win the rest of our games, we wouldn’t advance (to the Big Sky tournament).”
The Matadors outshot the Vikings, 26-0. It was the first time in school history the Matadors held a team without a shot.
“I think it’s pretty exciting to put us in the record books,” Fish said. “We have the potential to do that a lot because our defense is so strong. We work well together.
“We learned a new defense this year and it’s worked well because of all the talent we have.”
Fish put the Matadors ahead, 1-0, in the 34th minute. She headed in a cross from Joanna Parker that slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Lori Scheider.
“I read the ball being played over my own teammates’ heads. I knew it was a good opportunity,” Fish said. “I did everything I could to get my head on it. It took a diving header to do it.
“We needed a goal to pick up our momentum. The goal picked up my confidence as well as our team’s.”
Northridge extended the lead in the 67th minute when Erin Broadwell headed in a Brynne Blumstein cross.
DeVos extended the lead to 3-0 by converting a penalty kick in the 74th minute.
