Cal State Northridge
Mustangs Grab No. 3 Seed for Big West Tournament with 2-0 Win
11/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Senior forward Junior Burgos converted a penalty shortly before halftime and senior forward David Zamora matched the Cal Poly men's soccer program record for career goals with a 63rd-minute strike as the Mustangs completed regular-season play and cemented the No. 3 seed for the Big West Conference Tournament with a 2-0 triumph on Saturday evening versus Cal State Northridge at Matador Soccer Field.
Junior goalkeeper Patrick McLain registered his 10th career clean sheet with five saves for the Mustangs (8-6-3, 5-3-2), who will travel to second-seeded UC Santa Barbara (11-4-3, 7-2-1) on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Big West Tournament semifinal round. Top-seeded and seventh-ranked UC Irvine (14-2-3, 7-1-2) will host fourth-seeded Cal State Fullerton (6-11-2, 4-6-0) during Wednesday's other semifinal match. The Big West Tournament championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 13 at the highest remaining seed's home venue. The Big West champion receives automatic entry into the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
The Mustangs registered seven first-half shot attempts on Saturday and forced Cal State Northridge sophomore goalkeeper Michael Abalos into a pair of saves before a Matador foul inside the penalty area during the 41st minute sent Burgos to the spot. Burgos, three-for-three on penalties as a Mustang, slotted Cal Poly's eighth-consecutive penalty to provide the Mustangs the unassailable lead.
Midway through the second half, Zamora (above) dispossessed the Cal State Northridge defense before scoring his 25th career goal and team-leading fifth of the 2010 campaign in the lower right corner of the Matador net. Already Cal Poly's career leader for points (64) and appearances (78), Zamora matched Clay Harty (1995-96) for the career goals lead.
Burgos finished with a match-best seven shot attempts for Cal Poly, which has qualified for all three Big West Tournaments but never advanced beyond the semifinal hurdle. During the 2008 Big West Tournament, UC Santa Barbara put Cal Poly out on penalties.
