5-5-5, 1-3BWC
CSUN
9-5-1, 2-0-1BWC
CSUN Holds on to Early Lead at Home to Edge Cal Poly 2-1
10/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — After taking an early lead Sunday afternoon at Matador Soccer Field, the CSUN women's soccer team held on through the second half to narrowly top visiting Cal Poly, 2-1.
Cal Poly's first shot came in the eighth minute, when a header by junior Kendra Bonsall went wide, before a 12th-minute attempt from senior Sara Epps sailed high.
The Matadors scored in the 14th minute, when Kourtney Kutscher put away a cross from Lyndsey Preston inside the box. A little more than a minute later, they tallied again, as a long pass by Kutscher set up Cynthia Sanchez.
The Mustangs' ensuing two shots, by freshman Chelsea Barry (on 17') and junior Breanna Rittmann (30'), were blocked, bookending a 26th-minute save by senior Alyssa Giannetti on Kiley Norkus.
Cal Poly then pulled within a goal in the 31st minute, when senior Allie Bégin headed in a corner kick from junior Megan Abutin. It was the second header in as many years for Bégin, who also had an aerial strike at Pepperdine last fall.
Mustang freshman Stephanie Magellan kept the attack going by forcing a 32nd-minute save from Cynthia Tafoya, before senior Elise Krieghoff shot wide in the 41st.
Giannetti denied Sanchez eight minutes into the second half, before Rittmann (blocked) and Abutin (wide) got off shots in the 57th and 58th. Barry put a shot on goal in the 65th, while Giannetti stopped Norkus a second time in the 69th.
Krieghoff again tested Tafoya in the 75th minute, before Giannetti also sent back Kutscher in the 76th. CSUN hung on from there.
Abutin, now with 20 assists since 2013, moved into a tie with Shana Stickel for the second-most in school history, behind the career record of 24 set by Kolleen Kassis from 1992-95.
Giannetti, meanwhile, made her 73rd career start, surpassing the all-time program record (72) established by Kristina Grigaitis from 1993-96.
Cal Poly (5-5-5, 1-3-0 Big West Conference) will next travel to UC Santa Barbara for another road game starting at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Team Stats
Kutscher, Kourtney (4)
Assisted By: Preston, Lyndsey , Sanchez, Cynthia
Gk out of box, 28 cross, 7 scores from i
13:12
Sanchez, Cynthia (11)
Assisted By: Kutscher, Kourtney
Long pass from 7, Sanchez scores pass Gk
14:19
Begin,Allie (1)
Assisted By: Abutin,Megan
Off corner kick from 2, 9 heads in goal
30:53
