FULLERTON, Calif. – After scoring in the 87th minute to eventually earn a draw on the road against Missouri State, Cal State Fullerton now returns home to Titan Stadium to host James Madison and New Mexico in back-to-back doubleheaders with the women's soccer team.
QUICK HITS
• Cal State Fullerton opened up the season with a draw against Missouri State. It was the first time since 2011 they began the season earning at least a draw.
• Fullerton now returns home to host back-to-back games this weekend at Titan Stadium where they were 5-3-3 in 2017.
• After the first week of action, the Titans are ranked No. 30 in the polls according to College Soccer News.
• The Titans have qualified for the NCAA Tournament three of the last four seasons and now look to make it four in five years.
• Head Coach George Kuntz is in his 5th season at the helm of the Titans. Cal State Fullerton is 43-33-16 under his leadership.
IN THE POLLS
For just the second time in program history the Titans have been picked first in the Big West Preseason Coaches poll to win the conference. Fullerton received four votes (57 points). The Titans are also ranked nationally by College Soccer News at No. 30 in the country.
GUERIN AND SARR SHINE IN OPENING MATCH
Paul-Andre Guerin and Bass Sarr showed to be in mid-season form after their first game performance against Missouri State. Guerin recorded seven saves with three of them being spectacular stops. Sarr made a great play in the 87th minute to head the ball over the charging goalkeeper to tie the game up and eventually give the Titans a 1-1 draw and a much needed on point on the road.
CLOSING IN ON RECORDS
Fifth-year senior Robert Coronado returns for his final season after suffering a season-ending injury in 2017. Coronado has recorded 12 assists over three years and needs just three more assists to be tied for 10th all-time in the history of the program. Paul-Andre Guerin has recorded eight shutouts in two years, needing just three more shutouts to be ranked eighth all-time in Fullerton's record book. Guerin holds the most shutouts of any active goalkeeper in the Big West.
FRESHMAN SHOW PROMISE
The Titans played four freshman in Monday's match against Missouri State in Edward Salazar, Jose Delgado, Zico Bailey and Charly Anguiano. Salazar and Bailey started for Fullerton, while all four showed tremendous upside.
OPPONENT AND HISTORY
JAMES MADISON
5 p.m. | Friday, Aug. 31 | Titan Stadium
Fullerton and James Madison will meet for the first time in the history of the two programs. James Madison is 1-1 so far this season with a loss against Air Force and a win coming against Gardner-Webb.
Last season the Dukes went 9-7-3 with a 5-1-2 conference record before losing in the conference tournament semifinals. James Madison returns their top point getter from last season in Manuel Ferriol who scored seven goals in 2017. The Dukes, however, did lose their next two top scorers from last season.
NEW MEXICO
7 p.m. | Sunday, Sept. 2 | Titan Stadium
The Titans will face off against the Lobos for just the 15th time in history. Neither team holds an advantage as they are tied with at 7-7 apiece. The two teams have not met since 2002 when the Titans took a 2-1 win at Titan Stadium. Fullerton has won the past two matchups and are 5-2 against New Mexico when playing at Titan Stadium.
New Mexico is 1-1 on the year so far with a win against Seattle and a loss coming to Washington. The Lobos lost their top two scorers from last season, they return Antoine Vial who scored four goals in 2017. Last year New Mexico went 8-6-4 with a 3-3-2 record in conference play before eventually losing to Charlotte in the Conference USA tournament quarterfinals.
SUPPORT THE TITANS!
Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitans.com/Tickets.The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278- 2783 or by emailat athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan House off of Gymnasium Drive at theeastern end of the Intramural Fields and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) and Instagram (FullertonTitans). In addition, the men's soccer team has established its own Twitter (@FullertonMSOC), and Instagram accounts (@fullertonmsoc).
