New Year, Same Goal for CSUN : Champion UCLA Is Tough First Test for CSUN Soccer

Each of the last two seasons, Marwan Ass’ad has had the same preseason outlook, made the same prediction and, unfortunately for his Cal State Northridge soccer team, suffered the same postseason fate--defeat in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

As Northridge prepares to open the 1986 season by playing host to defending Division I champion UCLA tonight at 7:30, he is singing the same tune. Ass’ad, in his fourth season as coach, believes that his team can win the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. championship and the NCAA Division II title.

“Yeah, it’s really the same story,” Ass’ad said. “But, we should win the title. We can. I know we can.”

CSUN is favored to win its third straight conference championship. With four all-conference starters returning, including CCAA player of the year John Tronson, Northridge may do just that.

A national title, however, remains elusive to CSUN. Two years ago, the Matadors won their conference with an 18-3-2 record, but lost, 2-1, to Missouri-St. Louis in the second round of the NCAA finals.

Last season, Northridge was 17-4-1. In the second round, national champion Seattle-Pacific beat CSUN, 3-2. The loss to Seattle-Pacific, in front of more than 2,000 fans, was CSUN’s first in 30 games at North Campus Stadium.

The Matadors apparently can’t win the big ones. So, why should this season be any different?

“We have 14 players returning,” Ass’ad said. And that may be reason enough, considering that Seattle-Pacific’s ranks were decimated by graduation.

Leading the Matadors will be Tronson, a two-time CCAA player of the year at forward for CSUN. Last season, he scored 17 goals. He had 20 the year before. At 6-4, 200 pounds and possessing uncanny speed for his size, he is considered one of the top college players in the country.

Northridge also returns team captain Mike McAndrew, the school’s all-time assist leader and a first-team all-conference selection last season. Forward Frank Cubillos, whose two goals gave CSUN a 2-0 win last season over Chapman for the CCAA title, is back.

Rick Gora and Thor Lee, the mainstays of last season’s impressive defense, are back, along with Rodney Batt, Steve Lazerus and Steve Demaine.

Of four newcomers, only one, Steve MacKenzie, is slated to see immediate action. MacKenzie played for Simi Valley High last season.

Said Ass’ad: “Right now, MacKenzie looks like he will be the only freshman starting.”