Box Score (PDF)
VIDEO - MSOC: Rodriguez Finishes the Corner
FULLERTON, Calif. – A goal from junior Edgar Rodriguez wasn't enough as the Titans allowed two goals early in the second half to break their five match home winning streak at Titan Stadium on Wednesday night.
Rodriguez scored his first goal of the year in the 26th minute when a corner kick from Robert Coronado went off the head of Mitchell Bell straight to Rodriguez who was at the far side of the net ready to put it in.
The Cal State Fullerton (9-6-1, 4-2-1 BWC) defense allowed eight shots on goal in tonight's match, the most allowed since they played at Utah Valley where they allowed nine. Titan keeper David Rodriguez Elias allowed two goals while posting six saves, also the second highest of the season to Utah Valley where he logged seven.
The first half proved to be slow offensively on both sides with Fullerton having only three shots while CSUN managed two, yet the second half is when both teams kicked it into gear.
CSUN came out in the second half very aggressive, scoring their first goal of the match eight minutes into the half off the foot of David Turcios. Less than 10 minutes later, the Matadors drew a foul inside of the box, leading them to a penalty kick from Trevor Morley. Titan keeper Elias was stifled who dove right, while Morley placed it into the left side of the net, putting CSUN ahead 2-1 with just under 30 minutes left of regulation.
After the Matadors' second goal, four yellow cards were issued throughout the rest of the match before Michael Lopez drew a red card right at the very end of the game.
Fullerton returns to the pitch this Saturday at Titan Stadium to host UC Riverside at 7 p.m. The Titans will be honoring their departing five seniors that night in Julian Okai, Colin Okirie, Nigel Patterson, Jeff Salt and Dyllan Stevens. The festivities are scheduled to begin around 6:40 p.m.
NOTES: The Titans have allowed only four goals in Big West play throughout seven games for a 0.54 goals against average… Fullerton is 0-5 when allowing two goals this season… Rodriguez's goal tonight was the first of his Titan career… Elias now has a goals against average of 0.86 on the season, still good for second in the record books… Bell recorded his first point of the season tonight with his assist on Rodriguez's goal…
