FULLERTON, Calif. – With time running out and the game seamlessly over, forward Samuel Goni came up with a clutch goal in the 89th minute to even the score with UC Riverside at 1-1 to earn Fullerton one point in conference play Saturday night at Titan Stadium.
The Titans had plenty of opportunities to put the ball in the back of the net against the Highlanders with 13 shots on the night but couldn't find the right touch at times. Of Fullerton's 13 shots, five of them were on goal and several others were just wide of the net.
The Highlanders took the advantage midway through the second period on goal from Daniel Aguirre for his first of the season. Olli Pirinen crossed the ball from outside of the 18-yard box to set Aguirre up for the goal.
Goni finally gave Fullerton a goal it so desperately needed in the last minutes of play on a loose ball that he gained just outside of the six-yard box before burying it past the goalkeeper. The spaniard now has seven goals on the season which is tied for a team-high with Ross McPhie and is ranked tied for third in the Big West Conference.
UC Riverside and Fullerton got extremely physical in the second half with several skirmishes breaking out throughout the match, leading to four yellow cards being given out with three of the coming in the second.
With the draw the Titans are remain in second place in the Big West Conference South Division with 11 points, three points behind CSUN who has 14. Fullerton is now three points ahead of third place UC Irvine.
The Titans return to the pitch Wednesday when they head north to the valley to take on division-leading CSUN at 7 p.m. PT.
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