FULLERTON, Calif. – Trailing 2-0 at halftime to CSUN, the Titans came storming back in the second half to score two goals to send the game to overtime and eventually earn a 2-2 draw Wednesday night at Titan Stadium.
As they have all season, Fullerton (4-2-6) refused to lose the match. Mark Hernandez started the comeback with a goal in the 61st minute from a few yards outside of the six-yard box. Hernandez received the ball from Ross McPhie and fired shot that deflected off of the goalkeeper and went in for his first goal of the season. McPhie now leads the team with four assists this season.
Just over seven minutes later, Samuel Goni had possession of the ball, taking a defender 1-on-1 when he was tripped up inside the 18-yard box to earn a penalty kick. Goni, showing the moment wasn't too big for him, roofed the ball giving the CSUN goalkeeper, Henrik Regitnig, no chance at a save.
�� EXTRA MATADORS & TITANS ��
— Big West M-Soccer (@BigWestMSOC) October 4, 2018
They both aren't champions for nothing... @FullertonMSOC rally to level things at 2 and head to overtime with @CSUNMensSoccer!
Watch the finish �� https://t.co/GLWjKfdZ5e
Samuel Goni (68') the equalizing PK ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2bLk9wdD8S
While the Fullerton's goals are what show up on the stat sheet, it all might have been for none if Titans goalkeeper Paul-Andre Guerin didn't make an amazing save on a penalty kick by Giovanni Aguilar in the 51st minute to keep the deficit to just two.
"I think (Guerin's) save on the penalty kick in the second half is really what turned things around for us," McPhie said.
Daniel Trejo scored his seventh goal of the CSUN in the 24th minute on an assist from Johnny Rodriguez to put CSUN up 1-0. Nicholas Grinde then scored in the 38th minute to give the Matadors a 2-0 lead heading into the locker room at halftime before the Titans scoring two goals in the final 45 minutes.
Divisional #BigWestChamps �� battle to a 2OT FINAL:
— Big West M-Soccer (@BigWestMSOC) October 4, 2018
1H >> @CSUNMensSoccer (Trejo 24' + Grinde 38').
2H >> @FullertonMSOC (Hernandez 61' + Goni 68' PK).
Henrik Regitnig 5 SV; Paul-Andre Guerin 11.
Result: 2-2 draw... To be settled in postseason?#ONEMatador #TusksUp #PlayBig pic.twitter.com/48AYg3k2OI
The Titans have now been to overtime in seven of their 12 matches and have yet to lose a game when forcing overtime. With six ties this season, the Titans tie the program record for most draws in a season.
The game was a physical match as it always is when CSUN and Fullerton meet each, resulting in eight cards shown to the teams combined. Including Edward Salazar being shown his second yellow card of the match to earn a red card in the 100th minute, leaving the Titans to play with just 10 players in the second overtime period. But the Titans showed their determination and we're able to stave off the Matadors a man short.
Fullerton is now undefeated in its last five contests and hits the road looking to extended that streak against UC Santa Barbara Saturday night at 7 p.m. PT at Harder Stadium.
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).