Posted: Oct 10, 2014
Box Score (PDF)
FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton men's soccer team captured its 2014 Big West Conference home opener against UC Santa Barbara, 2-0, on Thursday evening at Titan Stadium behind a game winning goal by Robert Coronado in the 42nd minute.
Fullerton's goal originated in the 41st minute when UCSB lost the ball out of bounds in its own half of the field. A long throw into the box found the head of Nigel Patterson, who flicked it on to Robert Coronado as he worked through the Gaucho defenders into a wide-open space with only UCSB goalkeeper Brandon Berke to beat. Coronado chipped the ball over Berke, high into the right corner to put the Titans up 1-0 just minutes before the halftime whistle.
Fullerton dominated play in the first-half, leading in total shots 8-3, and corners 4-1.
The Gauchos' best opportunity to equalize came in the 69th minute when reigning Big West Offensive Player of the Week Nick DePuy went streaking down the left side and fired a shot on goal toward Titan keeper Jeff Salt. Salt lunged to his left and made a diving save, protecting the 1-0 Titan lead.
Fullerton put the game out of reach in the 82nd minute when a powerful shot by redshirt senior Spencer Johnson hit the crossbar, but fell to the feet of sophomore Mitchell Bell who tapped in his second goal of the season, placing the Titans ahead 2-0.
Following the Titans second goal in the 82nd minute, UCSB's Drew Murphy was booked with a yellow card. Before the clock could start up again, another yellow card was issued to the UC Santa Barbara bench.
Salt secured his first win of the season for the Titans, improving his record to 1-2-2.
The Titans are back on the pitch for another Big West battle at Titan Stadium on Saturday as they take on Cal Poly at 7 p.m.
Notes: The Titans closed the gap in the all-time series against UC Santa Barbara with the win, posting an overall record of 23-29-3…Tonight's loss was the first conference loss of the season for the Gauchos and also the first conference win of the season for the Titans…The Gauchos 12-game unbeaten streak in regular season conference play was snapped, only two wins away from tying the all-time record of 14, set by UCSB in the 2002-03 season.
