FULLERTON, Calif. – Second-half goals from freshman Tala Haddad and junior Christina Burkenroad spurred Cal State Fullerton to a 2-1 victory over Grand Canyon in an exhibition match on Sunday at Titan Stadium.
The Titans will now open the regular season hosting No. 22 BYU at 7 p.m., Friday at Titan Stadium.
Tickets are available by clicking HERE.
After a scoreless first half of play, Haddad – a goal scorer in Friday's exhibition at San Diego State – needed less than two minutes to have an impact on the game, putting the Titans ahead 1-0 in the 47th minute after entering the match at the break.
Redshirt junior Rebecca Wilson played a ball from the right side through the box, finding Haddad open at the far post. The native of Bakersfield, Calif., buried the shot in the left corner.
Less than three minutes later, Burkenroad extended Fullerton's lead to 2-0 after senior Colleen Ortega played another ball from the right side through the box. Haddad controlled the pass and left it off for Burkenroad, who hammered her effort back to the right corner.
Fullerton outshot Grand Canyon 16-10, and had a 10-4 advantage in corner kicks.
The Titans couldn't hold the shutout as Cassie Beckwith cut the Titans' lead in half, 2-1, in the 79th minute. On the breakaway, Beckwith was able to beat Titan goalkeeper Jennifer Staurt to the far post after receiving a pass from Brylee Hawkins out of the midfield.
Staurt made four saves in the second half, including two crucial stops late in the match.
Freshman Morgan Bertsch played the first 45 minutes for the Titans in goal and was not forced to make a save.
GCU goalkeeper Blakely Fraasch made four saves in the first half for the Lopes, while Shannon McReynolds allowed both Fullerton scores and made two saves in the second half for GCU.
Fullerton took nine shots in the second half as senior Adriana Gjonovich missed just right on a rocket from near the top of the box while sophomore Ivy Diego hit the crossbar with another attempt.
Freshman Sarah Fajnor also had an opportunity with a breakaway in the second half, but McReynolds was able to come off her line to make the save.
In two exhibition matches, Haddad totaled two goals and one assist.
Fullerton officially begins the season with four consecutive home matches as No. 22 BYU visits Titans Stadium at 7 p.m., Friday. The Titans follow with Michigan State (4 p.m., Aug. 24), No. 25 Denver (7 p.m., Aug. 29) and Georgia (1 p.m., Aug. 31).
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
