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.

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.

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

Men's sports Women's sports Baseball Basketball Basketball Beach volleyball Cross country Cross country Golf Golf Soccer Soccer Track and field Softball Volleyball Tennis Track and field Volleyball Water polo

Baseball

The baseball team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of California State University, Northridge in Northridge, California, United States. 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

The men's basketball team represents California State University, Northridge in Northridge, California, United States. 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

The women's basketball team represents California State University, Northridge in Northridge, California, United States. 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 men's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 1–7 through seven appearances. 2002 First Round Loyola Marymount L 0–1 2003 Second Round FIU L 1–2 2004 First Round Loyola Marymount L 0–1 2005 Second RoundThird Round UC Santa BarbaraNew Mexico W 3–2L 0–1 2012 First Round San Diego L 1–2 2013 Second Round Stanford L 0–1 2016 First Round Pacific L 0–1

Women's soccer The women's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 0–1 through one appearance.

2012 First Round San Diego State 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. 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.

1992 First Round USC L 0–3 1996 First Round Kansas State L 1–3 2003 First Round Loyola Marymount L 0–3 2004 First Round Kansas State L 0–3 2013 First RoundSecond Round Colorado StateUSC W 3–2L 0–3

Former varsity sports Cal State Northridge Matadors football (discontinued 2001) Swimming (men's and women's) (discontinued 2010)

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.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/ In 2013, the team finished first in California and sixth in the Nation in Division 2.

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.

Baseball (6): 1965, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2002 Men's basketball (2): 2001, 2009 Women's basketball (4): 1999, 2014, 2015, 2018 Men's soccer (7): 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2016 Women's soccer (1): 2012 Softball (14): 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2015 Women's tennis (1): 2001 Men's indoor track and field (2): 1998, 2008 Men's outdoor track and field (3): 1992, 2007, 2010 Women's indoor track and field (3): 1996, 1996, 2000 Women's outdoor track and field (8): 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008 Men's volleyball (2): 1993, 2010 Women's volleyball (5): 1992, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2013

Team

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

CSUN won 30 national championships at the Division II level.

Baseball (2): 1970, 1984 Men's golf (3): 1969, 1973, 1974 Men's gymnastics (2): 1968, 1969 Women's gymnastics (1): 1982 Men's outdoor track and field (1): 1975 Softball (4): 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987 Men's swimming and diving (9): 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 Women's swimming and diving (4): 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989 Men's tennis (1): 1969 Women's tennis (1): 1982 Women's volleyball (2): 1983, 1987

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

Women's outdoor track and field – Division I (3): 1978, 1979, 1980 (AIAW) Women's volleyball – Division II (1): 1980 (AIAW)

Individual

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

NCAA individual championships Order School year Athlete(s) Sport Source 1965–66 Rusty Rock Men's gymnastics 1966–67 Rich Grigsby Men's gymnastics 1970–71 Pat Mahoney Men's gymnastics 1990–91 Darcy Arreola Women's outdoor track and field 2006–07 Dashalle Andrews Men's outdoor track and field 2007–08 Reindell Cole Men's indoor track and field

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

References

External links