Box Score (PDF)
VIDEO: Bryan, Pineda Lead Titans to Victory
FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton men's soccer team shutout Sacramento State to open up Big West play 2-0 at Titan Stadium on Thursday night.
Goals from junior Zach Bryan and freshman Ronaldo Pineda set the tone for the Titans (6-4, 1-0) in the first half, who outshot the Hornets 17-3.
The Titans set season-highs offensively, dominating the match with a season-high 17 shots on the night, with a season-high nine shots on goal. Fullerton had 12 of the 17 shots come in the second half of the match.
The Fullerton defense also set a season-low holding the Hornets to only three shots, the lowest since they held UTRGV to four on Sept. 20.
Fullerton jumped on the board in the 19th minute when a Hornet defender kicked the ball away from the goal straight to Bryan, who was just inside the box and shot a rocket right above the goalkeeper into the top of the net for his first goal of the season.
Minutes later the Titans struck again when freshman Brandon West passed it back to Diego Sanchez, who then crossed it to Pineda who chipped it in over the Hornet goalkeeper to find the net for the first time in his Titan career.
The Titans logged their fifth shutout of the year while the Titan defense gave goalkeeper David Rodriguez Elias an easy night holding them to only three shots, none of them on goal.
Fullerton looks to get another win Saturday night against UC Davis to begin Big West play 2-0 for the first time in Titan history as they host the Aggies at 7 p.m. at Titan Stadium.
NOTES: The Fullerton defense has allowed only 12 total shots and six corner kicks from opponents in their last three matches at home…. This is the first time Fullerton has won the opening match in Big West play since they beat UC Santa Barbara in a 1-0 OT win in 2010… The Titans have outshot opponents 85-42 at Titan Stadium this season… Elias is now tied for seventh in the record books with his fifth shutout of the season.
