Box Score (PDF)
FULLERTON, Calif. – A trio of freshmen led the Cal State Fullerton men's soccer team to record a 3-0 shutout victory over George Washington in the Titans' home opener on Friday night at Titan Stadium.
The Titans (1-2-0) logged their first home opener victory since 2009 while the freshmen trio of Brandon West, Michael Lopez and Ross McPhie each scored their first goals in a Titan uniform.
The first scoring play began when GW goalkeeper Jack Lopez fumbled a cross from Ronaldo Pineda on the right side of the box which was then recovered by Diego Sanchez who hit a shot off top of the post, where West was ready to recover the missed shot and headed it in to put the Titans ahead 1-0.
The two remaining goals came in the second half, each within a minute apart from one another. The first came from Lopez who had dribbled down field and shot between four defenders just outside the top of the box, making it just over GW's Lopez to find the back right net. Less than a minute later, Nigel Patterson managed to take the ball downfield, getting it inside the box when a missed cross to Julian Okai found McPhie who came across the box to find the left side of the net to solidify the Titan lead at 3-0.
Titan goalkeeper David Rodriguez Elias logged four saves en route to his first shutout of the season.
Fullerton outshot the Colonials 15-7 while accumulating three corner kicks to George Washington's none.
The Titans return to action this Sunday as they head up north to visit Santa Clara at 1 p.m.
NOTES: Fullerton almost matched their season total number of shots before tonight's game (18) with 15 shots tonight… Freshman Roman Manning made his first appearance in a Titan uniform Friday night… The Titans victory was their first home opener win since 2009 and their first home opener shutout since 2008…