The California State University Northridge men’s soccer team lost 3-2 to the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos on October 31, 2026, in their Big West Conference season finale at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif. UC Santa Barbara established a 3-0 lead before CSUN mounted a late rally with two goals but could not complete the comeback.
Steinar Bjornsson opened scoring for UCSB in the 19th minute after receiving a pass from Kalle Rahbek. Kaden Standish extended the Gauchos’ lead with a penalty kick in the 27th minute, followed by Rahbek’s goal early in the second half, assisted by Standish.
California State University Northridge responded with a goal from Kayvon Monfared, his ninth of the season, in the 54th minute. Shortly after, Dave-Ryan Tankou scored his third goal of the campaign to bring CSUN within one goal.
Senior goalkeeper Bryan Castaneda made five saves to keep the Matadors competitive during the match. The contest featured 32 total shots, with UCSB taking 18 and CSUN 14.
With the loss, California State University Northridge finished the 2026 season with a 7-8-2 overall record and a 1-4-1 mark in Big West play.
Head coach Terry Davila commended the team’s fightback effort in the second half despite the early deficit, acknowledging the team’s improvement and the lessons learned over the season.
CSB Take
California State University Northridge men’s soccer showed resilience in their season finale despite falling short against UC Santa Barbara. The Matadors demonstrated offensive potential, led by Kayvon Monfared’s scoring consistency. Coach Terry Davila’s reflections on growth and discipline suggest the program is building a foundation for future development within the competitive Big West Conference.
Source: Original report
More coverage: Cal State Northridge Matadors.
