Nov. 2, 2008
NORTHRIDGE, CA - Three different Matadors found the back of the net, including Nancy Avesyan's eventual game-winner just 18 seconds into the second half, to help lift host Cal State Northridge to a 3-1 victory over Cal State Fullerton in the women's soccer season finale for both teams on Sunday afternoon in Northridge, Calif.
The Titans end the season with their third consecutive loss, finishing the year with a 7-11-1 overall record and a 2-6 mark in Big West Conference play. The Matadors finished the season 8-9-2 overall and 3-4-1 in league play.
Fullerton had won 10 of the 11 all-time meetings with Northridge, including the last seven straight, prior to Sunday's loss.
Michelle Moore's first career goal in the 36th minute got the Matadors on the board first as a defensive miscue gave Sydney Vermillion the ball. She sent a long pass ahead for Moore, who collided with Fullerton goalkeeper Shannon Simpson, gained possession of the ball, and buried it into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
The match remained that way until the second half kickoff when Northridge struck quickly, using just 18 seconds to take a two-goal advantage. Tryna Tafoya crossed a ball that Sonia Espitia kept in bounds and passed it directly to Avesyan, who scored from inside five yards for the 2-0 advantage.
Kristal Phillips then added a third Matador score in the 52nd minute, scoring from five yards out off an assist from Avesyan to make it 3-0.
Fullerton finally got one of the scores back in the 84th minute as sophomore Claudia Munoz netted her first career goal off a long throw-in by teammate Jenae Gibbens to cut the deficit to 3-1.
It was Gibbens' team-best seventh assist of the year - a total that ties her for second in a single-season in Fullerton history.
Northridge outshot Fullerton, 26-17, including a 10-8 advantage in shots on goal. Both Simpson and Matadors' goalkeeper Leah Elliott finished the day with seven saves in net.
Sophomore Christina Murillo and senior Casey Schostag led the Titans' offense with three shots on the afternoon while Avesyan had five shots for Cal State Northridge to lead all players.