Box Score (PDF)
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Nigel Patterson's goal in the 45th minute led the Titans to a 1-0 shutout, the eighth of the year, in their South Division opener against CSUN at Matador Soccer Field on Wednesday night.
Cal State Fullerton's (8-5-1, 3-1-1 BWC) Patterson scored his second goal of the year while Titan goalkeeper David Rodriguez Elias moved up in the record books posting his eighth shutout, good for second in a single season right behind Mike Ammann who notched nine in 1993.
Elias logged two saves, one key save in the first half when he dove to his right to save a shot that would have potentially put CSUN ahead 1-0. The Huntington Beach native also lowered his goals against average to 0.84, also good for second in a single season.
Fullerton's lone goal came right before the end of the first half when a bouncing ball from Ross McPhie found the foot of Patterson who managed to get it past Big West Defensive Player of the Week, CSUN keeper Adam Hobbs.
After an offensive battle throughout the first half, shots were tied at five a piece until the second half when the Titans took control, outshooting the Matadors in the final 45 minutes four shots to their one. The Titans had two shots on frame, the first coming 26 minutes when D'Amato sent a rocket to Hobbs who managed to get enough on it to deflect it out.
This is only the second time in the last six games that the Titans logged less than ten shots, also while being the sixth consecutive match that Fullerton has outshot its opponents.
Cal State Fullerton will return home to continue South Division play against freeway rival, UC Irvine on Saturday night with a kick off time of 7 p.m.
NOTES: Cal State Fullerton leads the South Division with a Big West record of 3-1-1, accumulating 10 points so far… Cal State Fullerton's shutout percentage of .57 ranks in the top 15 nationally… Elias is now only one shutout away from tying the school record (9) with five matches left in regular season play… Patterson's second goal tonight is a career-high in a single season after he sent one into the goal last season… Seven of the eight Titan victories have come in shutout fashion… The Titans have not allowed any goals in all of their wins at home….
