NORTHRIDGE – Entering the Big West Conference men’s soccer slate, CSUN will likely pose the largest offensive threat of any league team.

As of Oct. 6, CSUN is third in assists (30), assists per game (3.0), seventh in points (76), seventh in points per game (7.6), 12th in goals (23), 13th in scoring offense (2.3), 22nd in shots per game (14.9), and 35th in shots on goal per game (6.3).

Spearheading the Matador offense are forwards Daniel Trejo and Johnny Rodriguez. Rodriguez is 12th in Division I in game-winning-goals (3), 12th in total goals (8), 11th in points (19), 15th in points per game (1.9), 16th in goals per game (0.8), and 18th in shots per game (3.8). Rodriguez leads the Big West Conference in shots (38), goals and points.

Trejo is second on shots on goal per game (2.4), eighth in shot accuracy (0.67), 17th in total points (18), 20th in total goals (7), 22nd in points per game (1.8), 26th in goals per game (0.7), and 26th in shots per game (3.6). For the fourth time in his career, Trejo was named Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 16. Trejo scored three goals and added an assist as the Matadors split home matches against No. 8 Washington and No. 13 UCLA. The Mendota native sparked the 3-1 upset against the Huskies with a goal and an assist. The win represented CSUN’s highest-ranked victim since defeating No. 9 Utah Valley on Sept. 1, 2017. In a 4-2 loss to the Bruins, Trejo recorded two goals – the fourth multi-goal game of his career. He took eight shots over the two games, five of which were on frame.

Trejo was selected Big West Offensive Player of the Week in week one of the season. Trejo helped CSUN to a pair of wins at the Bert & Iris Wolstein Classic in Columbus, Ohio. Trejo scored two goals and added two assists to lead the Matadors to the tourney title with wins over host Ohio State (4-3) and Dayton (3-1). He was named to the All-Tournament Team. The forward had an assist in the comeback victory over the Buckeyes. He produced two goals and an assist versus the Flyers, including the game-winner. He also tied the school’s Division I record for most shots in a match with 10, sharing the mark with current CSUN women’s soccer head coach Keith West (vs. Marshall, 9/29/95) and Danny Daniels (vs. Grand Canyon, 11/9/91). His efforts rewarded him with TopDrawerSoccer.com National Player of the Week honors as well as a spot on the College Soccer News Team of the Week.

Keying the attack is redshirt senior Julio Rubio. With eight assists, Rubio begins the week of Oct. 7 as the Division I leader in assists. Rubio is third in D-1 in assists per game (0.80).

The Big West schedule begins Wednesday at 7 p.m. when CSUN hosts nationally-ranked Cal State Fullerton. The first 200 CSUN students through the turnstiles will receive a free hot dog.

The Titans, 8-2-2, are 22nd in this week’s College Soccer News Top 30 poll and 24th in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25. Fullerton’s two losses came last week during a trip through Maryland to James Madison and the defending national champion Terps. Christian Pinzon is third in the Big West and 24th nationally in points with 17. Pinzon and Oscar Flores are tied fourth in the league in goals scored with five. Flores is fifth in the league in points scored with 13.

Cal State Fullerton goalie Paul-Andre Guerin has been named Big West Defensive Player of the Week in two of the past four weeks. Guerin is the Big West leader in wins (8), saves (45), and goals-against average (0.79). This is the 49th meeting between the two clubs with CSUN leading the all-time series 23-18-7. Live stats are available on GoMatadors.com

CSUN travels to UC Davis Saturday for a 1 p.m. start. The match will be streamed on BigWest.tv. The Aggies completed non-conference play with a 6-3-1 record. UC Davis has won three in a row entering conference action.

Kristian Heptner leads the squad in goals (3) and points. Adam Mickelson’s three assists pace the program. Wallis Lapsley is second in the Big West goals-against average (0.89), saves (34) and wins (6).

This the 24th meeting between the two clubs with UC Davis leading the all-time series 10-8-5. Counting the Big West Tournament, the teams have played four times over the past two seasons.