SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - CSUN took a significant step toward winning the West Coast Hockey Conference championship for a fourth consecutive year Saturday by winning the regular season title for the first time since joining the conference in the fall of 2014 with a 9-4 victory over UC Santa Barbara.

     The Matadors will be the home team for every game of the WCHC playoffs in February and of course will have the advantage of last change.

     CSUN is still undefeated in conference play with a 6-0 record. The Matadors have a chance to become just the third team in the 10 year history of the WCHC to finish the season with a perfect record. Northern Arizona finished 6-0 in 2012-13 and Arizona State finished 8-0 in 2015-16. Both times those teams won the WCHC tournament.

     CSUN jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first period thanks to goals from Grayson Szumilas, Nick Schwartz and Geno Norraik.

     The Matadors scored three more goals in the middle frame. Christian Parks, Norraik and Parks again lit the lamp to make it 6-3.

     Once again CSUN scored three goals in the third. After the Gauchos narrowed the gap to two Szumilas scored his second, Matt Hoover made it 8-4 and Norraik completed the hat trick. It was Norraik's second career hat trick and both have come against UCSB this season. The Matadors sophomore scored four goals against the Gauchos back in November.

     Caleb Mead improved his record to 6-0-0-1 by making 25 saves.

     CSUN takes a break from conference play next weekend hosting a two game series against Utah Valley. Last season in Provo the Matadors beat the Wolverines 3-1. Puck drop Friday is at 8:15 p.m.