Cal State Northridge Matadors Explained

Cal State Northridge Matadors
University:California State University, Northridge
Association:NCAA
Conference:Big West Conference (primary)
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (swimming & diving)
Division:Division I
Director:Shawn Chin-Farrell
Location:Northridge, California
Teams:19
Basketballarena:Premier America Credit Union Arena
Baseballfield:Matador Field
Softballstadium:Matador Diamond
Soccerstadium:Matador Soccer Field
Arena2:Matador Beach Volleyball Facility
Matador Pool
Matador Tennis Complex
Matador Track and Field Complex
Nickname:Matadors
Mascot:Matty
Pageurl:http://www.gomatadors.com/

The Cal State Northridge Matadors (branded as the CSUN Matadors) are the athletic teams that represent California State University, Northridge in Northridge, Los Angeles, California. The Matadors field 17 teams in nineteen sports. The Matadors compete in NCAA Division I and are members of the Big West Conference.[1] CSUN has been a member of the Big West Conference since the summer of 2001 for most sports. The men's and women's indoor track and field teams compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation instead. Men's volleyball also competed in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, but began to compete in the Big West beginning in 2018.[2]

Nickname

The Matador nickname was suggested in 1958 by student submissions, and was chosen over four other finalists. These included the Apollos, Falcons, Rancheros and Titans. The Matador is said to reflect the region's Spanish heritage.

History

CSUN had previously been a member of the Big Sky Conference from 1996 to 2000. The Matadors won 34 NCAA Division II National Titles before moving up to Division I in 1990. That still ranks third all time in Division II.

Sports sponsored

Basketball
Beach volleyball
Cross country Cross country
Golf Golf
Soccer Soccer
Track and field Softball
Volleyball Tennis
Track and field
Volleyball
Water polo

Baseball

See main article: Cal State Northridge Matadors baseball. The CSUN Matadors baseball team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of California State University, Northridge in Northridge, California, United States.[3] The team is a member of the Big West Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I. Cal State Northridge's first baseball team was fielded in 1959. The team plays its home games at 1,200-seat Matador Field. During its time in Division II, the Matadors baseball team won two national championships (1970, 1984).

Basketball

Men's basketball

See main article: Cal State Northridge Matadors men's basketball.

The CSUN Matadors men's basketball team represents California State University, Northridge in Northridge, California, United States.[4] The school's team currently competes in the Big West Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I. Cal State Northridge's first men's basketball team was fielded in 1958–1959. The team plays its home games at the 2,400-seat Premier America Credit Union Arena.

Women's basketball

See main article: Cal State Northridge Matadors women's basketball.

The CSUN Matadors women's basketball team represents California State University, Northridge in Northridge, California, United States.[5] The school's team currently competes in the Big West Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I. Cal State Northridge's first women's basketball team was fielded in 1958–1959. The team plays its home games at the 2,400-seat Premier America Credit Union Arena.

Soccer

Men's soccer

The CSUN Matadors men's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 1–7 through seven appearances.[6]

First Round L 0–1
Second Round L 1–2
First Round Loyola Marymount L 0–1
Second Round
Third Round
W 3–2
L 0–1
First Round L 1–2
Second Round L 0–1
First Round L 0–1

Women's soccer

The CSUN Matadors women's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 0–1 through one appearance.[7]

First Round L 0–3

Softball

While Division II members, the Matadors won the NCAA Division II softball tournament four times: 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1987

Since joining Division I, the Matadors softball team has appeared in two Women's College World Series in 1993 and 1994, advancing to the title game in 1994 before falling to Arizona.[8] During its time in Division II, Matadors softball won four national championships.

Women's volleyball

The CSUN Matadors women's volleyball team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 1–5 through five appearances.[9]

First Round L 0–3
First Round L 1–3
First Round L 0–3
First Round Kansas State L 0–3
First Round
Second Round
Colorado State
USC
W 3–2
L 0–3

Former varsity sports

Non-varsity sports

Rugby

CSUN women's rugby began as a university recognized club team in 2011, after a 17-year hiatus. CSUN women's rugby played in the Collegiate SoCal Division 2 in 2012, and finished ranked first in Southern California and 14th in the Nation in Division 2.[11] In 2013, the team finished first in California and sixth in the Nation in Division 2.[12]

Championships

Appearances

The CSUN Matadors competed in the NCAA Tournament across 13 active sports (6 men's and 7 women's) 58 times at the Division I level.[13]

Team

CSUN has never won a national championship at the NCAA Division I level.

CSUN won 30 national championships at the Division II level.[14]

Below are four national championships that were not bestowed by the NCAA:

Individual

CSUN had 6 Matadors win NCAA individual championships at the Division I level.

NCAA individual championships
OrderSchool yearAthlete(s)SportSource
1965–66 Men's gymnastics [15]
1966–67 Men's gymnastics
1970–71 Men's gymnastics
1990–91 Women's outdoor track and field [16]
2006–07 Men's outdoor track and field [17]
2007–08 Men's indoor track and field [18]

At the NCAA Division II level, CSUN garnered 163 individual championships.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Big West Conference . 2016-12-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20010810235116/http://www.bigwest.org/history/ . 2001-08-10.
  2. Web site: Big West Conference Makes Men's Volleyball 18th Sponsored Sport .
  3. Book: 2011 Baseball Media Guide . Cal State Northridge. June 3, 2014. 62.
  4. Web site: CSUN Men's Basketball Quick Facts . Cal State Northridge. 2018-06-24.
  5. Web site: CSUN Women's Basketball Quick Facts . Cal State Northridge. 2018-06-24.
  6. Web site: Division I Men's Soccer Championships Records Book . . 22 July 2018.
  7. Web site: Division I Women's Soccer Championships Records Book . . 25 July 2018.
  8. Book: A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. William. Plummer. Larry C.. Floyd. 2013. Turnkey Communications Inc.. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. 978-0-9893007-0-4.
  9. Web site: Division I Women's Volleyball Championship Records Book . . 6 August 2018.
  10. Web site: Cal State Northridge Announces Discontinuation of Men's and Women's Swimming Programs – Newsroom – California State University, Northridge . 2013-12-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131211152421/http://blogs.csun.edu/news/2010/03/swimming/ . 2013-12-11.
  11. Daily Sundial, Women’s Rugby: A CSUN rags to riches tale, Dec. 4, 2013, http://sundial.csun.edu/2013/12/womens-rugby-a-csun-rags-to-riches-tale/
  12. Web site: Women's Rugby: A CSUN rags to riches tale.
  13. Web site: NCAA Championships Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 10 April 2022.
  14. Web site: Championships Summary. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 20 May 2018.
  15. Web site: National Collegiate Men's Gymnastics Championships Records Book . . 8 July 2018.
  16. Web site: Division I Women's Outdoor Track Championships Records Book . . 8 July 2018.
  17. Web site: Division I Men's Outdoor Track Championships Records Book . . 8 July 2018.
  18. Web site: Division I Men's Indoor Track Championships Records Book . . 8 July 2018.