NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — CSUN men’s soccer created the better chances but was held scoreless in a 0-0 draw against UC San Diego on Saturday night at Matador Soccer Field.

The Matadors (6-4-5, 1-3-2 Big West) outshot the Tritons 15-13 and held a 57% possession edge but couldn’t break through against goalkeeper Nic Thiele, who finished with six saves. CSUN keeper Dorian Drucks made four stops to secure his eighth shutout of the season.

Zack Harris, Justin Sosa and Miles Johnson were among the Matadors’ most active attackers, each putting shots on target. Sosa forced Thiele into diving saves in the 16th and 56th minutes, while Johnson’s late efforts in the 87th minute were stopped and blocked in succession. Seydou Diop also had a pair of close looks in the final 10 minutes but sent both attempts just over the bar.

UC San Diego (0-7-7, 0-1-5 Big West) had its best opportunities early, as Brian Arens and Cole Barrett each tested Drucks inside the opening 10 minutes. Drucks kept the clean sheet intact with key saves on Barrett in the third minute and Ryan Namdar in the 48th.

Both sides earned four corner kicks and combined for five yellow cards in a physical match.

NOTES OF THE GAME

Drucks earned shutout number eight on the season, and is now tied at second-most in school history for a season. The most for a Matador since Michael Abalos also had eight in 2012.CSUN had six shots on goal to UCSD’s four.Sosa, Harris, Johnson, Michael Blevins, Francisco Garibay and Zion Wagoner all had a shot on goal in the match.The CSUN starting defense of Jake Shaked, Siddiq Lezzar, Luke Lawrence and Drucks all played the full 90 minutes.Diop and Blevins led the Matadors with three shots.UCSD had 17 fouls to CSUN’s 13.

ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH TERRY DAVILA
It was a team defensive effort tonight. We had an opportunity to win this game, we had an opportunity to lose this game. We didn’t deserve to win, but we didn’t deserve to lose. I call it a fair result. We didn’t do well enough to win the game. We still control our own destiny in the Big West, that’s all you can ask for. You never know what’s going to happen. We’ll see next week.

UP NEXT
CSUN will play Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at Matador Soccer Field. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.