NCAA Division I Location Northridge, California | Athletic director Brandon Martin Varsity teams 19 | |
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University California State University, Northridge Conference Big West Conference
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation | ||
The Cal State Northridge Matadors are the athletic teams that represent California State University, Northridge in Northridge, Los Angeles, California. The Matadors field 17 teams in nineteen sports.
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The Matadors compete in NCAA Division I and are members of the Big West Conference. CSUN has been a member of the Big West since the summer of 2001 for most sports. The men's and women's indoor track and field teams, the women's water polo team, and the men's volleyball team compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation instead. 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 2.
A football team was previously fielded, but the program was discontinued in 2001. Men's and women's swimming were also discontinued in 2010.
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.
Varsity teams
California State University, Northridge sponsors teams in eight men's and eleven women's NCAA sanctioned sports:
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.
Former varsity teams
Ice Hockey
The men's ice hockey team is the oldest non-varsity sport in school history. The team started in 1971. Currently the team competes in Division 2 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, which is the national governing body for non-varsity hockey, and they are also a member of the West Coast Hockey Conference. Before moving up to Division 2 in 2012 the team made the Division 3 National Tournament twice in 2010 and 2012. They finished 11th and ninth in the Nation, respectively.
Rugby
CSUN offers men's and women's 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. In 2013, the team finished first in California and sixth in the Nation in Division 2.
Boxing
Established in 2007, the team competes in both the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association (USIBA) and the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA). They currently hold two individual titles; 2014 Women's 152 Beginner (USIBA) and 2014 Men's 152 Beginner (USIBA).