IRVINE, Calif. -- Cal State Northridge defender Patrick Hickman scored his second goal of the season and forward Sagi Lev-Ari netted two scores as the Matadors (6-8-2, 2-4-1 Big West) cruised to a 3-0 win at No. 3 UC Irvine (11-3-2, 3-3-1) on Saturday night at Anteater Stadium. Lev-Ari's tally helped the senior become just the fourth player in Big West Conference history to reach 40 career goals.
Hickman found the net in the 63rd minute, bending a shot that went into the left side of the goal to put CSUN ahead 1-0. Adam Hobbs came up with saves in the 73rd, 75th and 76th minutes to preserve the lead before the Matadors could strike for more.
In the 78th minute Lev-Ari beat an offside trap and had his initial shot saved by Michael Breslin before putting away the rebound for the 40th goal of his career. He joins Drew McAthy (UCSB, 2001-04), Gerrell Elliott (Fresno State, 1988-91) and Rob Ryerson (UNLV, 1983-85) as the fourth player in conference history to reach the milestone.
MSOC FINAL: Matadors cruise to 3-0 win at #3 UCI! Lev-Ari scores twice after Hickman's tally.
— CSUN In Game (@CSUN_InGame) October 26, 2014
Lev-Ari increased the lead to three goals when he scored his second of the night, this time in the 88th minute. Edwin Rivas dribbled into the area and slotted a pass back to Lev-Ari, who then fired a shot just under the crossbar for his 10th goal of the season.
Hobbs finished the night with seven saves to earn his fifth shutout of the year. With the win, the Matadors picked up a victory against their highest ranked opponent since knocking off then-No. 3 UC Santa Barbara 1-0 in 2009 at Matador Soccer Field.
