Watch Brianna Chapman's Game-Winner vs. LMU (Courtesy Big West TV)
FULLERTON, Calif. -- Who says Friday the 13th is unlucky?
Cal State Fullerton junior Brianna Chapman rocketed home the eventual game-winner in the 89th minute and the Titans' defense picked up its fourth shutout of the season, handing visiting Loyola Marymount a 1-0 defeat on Friday night in front of 1,176 fans at Titan Stadium.
"What a great way to bounce back from our trip to Texas Tech," Head Coach Demian Brown said. "We played well, maintained possession, and created opportunities all night. I couldn't be more proud of the ladies for this victory."
The assembled crowd was the sixth-largest in the history of the program and they were treated to a gem as Fullerton (3-2-1 overall) limited the Lions (3-4) to just six shots on the night and held on until Chapman's first career goal and game-winner with 1:21 to play.
The sequence started off with a corner by senior Janali West that was cleared back to her on the left side. She then found Chapman, who was making her first appearance of the season, at the top of the box as she fired and had her inital attempt blocked right back to her. The San Diego native didn't miss on the rebound attempt, finishing perfectly back across the goal to the right side for the lone score of the match.
"I'm extremely happy for Brianna and the way she performed in her first match back from injury," Brown said. "I feel that she will continue to contribute to our success as the season moves forward."
Senior goalkeeper Lindsey Maricic and the defense were up to the task as Maricic logged her third clean sheet of the season and the 14th of her career, moving her past Laura Janke (2000-03) and into sole possession of second place on the school's all-time list behind only Karen Bardsley (2002-06), who logged 26 shutouts in her career.
"I'm more excited about the way we are defending," Brown said. "It was a great defensive effort by Lindsey and the back four and we'll look to continue that as we take on Utah State on Sunday and the rest of the non-conference schedule."
Of the 16 players who entered the match for the Titans, all but three finished with shots as Fullerton outdistanced LMU, 17-6, in that category for the match -- the fourth time in six games that the Titans have finished with double-digit shots this season. Senior Erica Mazeau led all players with a match-high three shots on the night.
The Titans looked to have the first goal of the match early on as a pass from Chelsey Patterson found Christina Burkenroad at the right post, who banged it home for an apparent 1-0 lead, but the chance was called offsides in the 16th minute, negating the goal. Fullerton had eight shots in the opening period and the first in the second half, but failed to get one on frame until Ali White's attempt was stopped by goalkeeper Brittany Jagger in the 60th minute.
Fullerton had another golden chance in the 66th minute, again off a corner, as Colleen Ortega's header was blocked mere feet by her own teammate and the rebound by West was put high from close range. A cross to the left in the 83rd minute found the head of Erica Mazeau, who tried to bounce it in, but Jagger recovered in time to make the stop.
Loyola Marymount wasn't without its own chances, putting together a pair of attempts that threatened to break up the shutout in its favor. Shannon Kent had the first, making a long run down the right side in the 74th minute, cutting in and losing her defender before putting a shot to the far post at a tough angle that missed wide.
Kent added another eight minutes later as Jocelyn Blankenship slid and poked the ball away from a Fullerton defender right to a waiting Kent, but the attempt sailed high from inside the box.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action on Sunday (Sept. 15) at 1 p.m. as the Titans host Utah State at Titan Stadium. The Aggies suffered their first loss of the season (4-1-1) to No. 25 Arkansas by the score of 3-2 in overtime on Friday night in Logan, Utah.
NOTES: The Titans remained unbeaten at home this season (3-0-1) and have not lost in their last five home matches dating back to a 4-2 defeat against UC Santa Barbara on Oct. 19, 2012... the 1,176 fans marked the 10th crowd of 1,000 fans or larger in the history of the program and the largest since Sept. 28, 2012, when 1,182 watched the Titans battle UC Irvine... the win over LMU ended a four-match losing streak overall (dating back to 2006) and a two-match losing skid at home (dating back to 2001) against the Lions.