CSUN Soccer Team Doesn’t Get At-Large Playoff Berth

The Cal State Northridge soccer team did not receive an at-large berth to the NCAA Division I playoffs, despite finishing second in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation’s Pacific Division and advancing to the MPSF championship.

Four MPSF teams--UCLA, Air Force, Cal State Fullerton and Fresno State--earned invitations to the 32-team tournament.

The Matadors beat two of those teams, shutting out Cal State Fullerton, 1-0, on Oct. 8, and defeating Air Force, 1-0, in the MPSF playoff semifinal last Friday. However, both teams had better overall records.

“It’s disappointing because we got so close,” Northridge Coach Marwan Ass’ad said.

The Matadors (12-9) lost to UCLA, 2-0, in the MPSF championship Sunday. Had they won the match, they would have received the MPSF’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Ass’ad, however, was extremely upbeat about his team’s play this year, even after learning the news Monday afternoon and telling his players.

“For the seniors, it’s hard, but for the sophomores and juniors--we will go to the playoffs next year, man,” he said. “You’ll see. We’ll play the best soccer ever at Northridge next year.”