Oct. 19, 2005
Fullerton, CA - UPCOMING: Wed., Oc.t 19 - Cal Poly SLO, Titan Stadium, 7 p.m. Sat., Oct. 22 - UC Davis, Titan Stadium, 7 p.m.
2005 RECORDS: Cal Poly SLO is 4-9-0 overall and 0-4-0 in the Big West Conference UC Davis is 6-5-2 overall Fullerton is 2-9-1 overall and 0-4-0 in the Big West Conference
SERIES HISTORIES: Fullerton and Cal Poly SLO have meet 15 times with the Titans holding a commanding 12-3 lead in the series including a 1-0 home win last year in the season finale on a Nacho Cid goal. The Titans have won the last three meetings since a 2-0 Mustangs' win in San Luis Obispo in the 2003 Big West opener.
Fullerton and UC Davis met for the first time ever last year with the Titans logging a 1-0 victory on Oct. 9 in Davis on a Steve Moreno goal. Earlier this year they met for a second time with Davis emerging with a 2-0 victory behind goals by Dylan Curtis and Nicholas Lind, both in the first 30 minutes of play.
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS: Like the Titans, the Mustangs are coming off a frustrating loss to UC Riverside. The Highlanders scored in the final minute of regulation for a 2-1 victory that left Cal Poly winless in conference play. Kyle Ochoa, the same player who beat the Titans with an 87th minute goal on Friday, was the UCR hero again on Sunday and earned conference player of the week honors. Moses Venegas has 4 of Cal Poly's 17 goals and leads the team with 9 points. Jeremy Coupe has played every minute in the nets (1.69 gaa).
ABOUT THE AGGIES: UC Davis is playing a Div. I independent schedule until its official arrival in the Big West Conference for the 2007-08 academic year. The Aggies have beaten Stanford and Big West members UC Riverside and Cal Poly. Nicholas Lind has 3 goals and 2 assists to lead the defensive-oriented team with 8 points. Juan Hernandez has a pair of goals and a pair of assists for 6 points. Derek Shaffer (4-3-0) and Charles Warne (1-2-2) have split time in goal and both have a goals against average of less than 1.00. Davis has scored only 11 goals in 13 matches but has allowed only 10. They have scored more than a single goal in only one match -- vs. Fullerton. They have allowed no more than 2 goals in any match and have posted six shutouts.
ABOUT THE TITANS: Fullerton is trying to snap a 4-match losing streak that coincided with the start of Big West Conference play. The Titans were shut out in the first three losses before blowing a 2-0 lead late in a 3-2 loss at UC Riverside on Friday afternoon. On the game-wininng goal by Kyle Ochoa in the 87th minute, Titans' goalkeeper Matt Cowan collided with Ochoa's knee and suffered a concussion and received a laceration that required stitches. A catscan was done to determine if there were any facial fractures. Eugene Brooks and Jose Barragan netted the Titans' goals, their first on the road this season in five matches.
AUDIO PLAY-BY-PLAY: For the first time since the 1994 NCAA Tournament, Cal State Fullerton men's soccer will have play-by-play audio coverage. It will be available via the Titans' new website -- www.FullertonTitans.com -- for all home matches. CSF students Mike Martinez and Brian Reed will provide the commentary.
MURDEROUS SCHEDULE: According to the pre-season NSCAA/adidas and Soccer America polls, the Titans will play eight games against top 25 teams -- one each with Maryland, Santa Clara, Penn State and Ohio State and two each with UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge. Fullerton plays eight games against teams that were in the 2004 NCAA Tournament field.
COACH MISTRI'S SWAN SONG: Coach Al Mistri is retiring after this, his 25th season as Titans' head coach. He has a current career record of 262-198-40, which makes him No. 20 on the victory list of active coaches and No. 37 (tie) all-time.™™