FULLERTON, Calif. – Despite taking 16 shots on Sunday, Cal State Fullerton could not score the equalizer to Jamie Cheslik's goal in the seventh minute as Michigan State held on to a 1-0 victory on Sunday at Titan Stadium.
Cheslik beat a Titan defender one-on-one just outside the six-yard box, and caught Fullerton (0-1-1) goalkeeper Morgan Bertsch leaning in the wrong direction, as she placed her shot low to the near post.
"Michigan State scored a goal that was a difficult goal for us to take because we felt like it could have been saved," head coach Demian Brown said. "We knew going into the game that Michigan State is a very well disciplined, and very defensive minded group. They have a great player up front that provides a lot of pressure on the counter attack. We knew we would have a share of possession, and at the end of it, we just need to be better at the finishing parts of the game."
It was the Spartans' (2-0-0) only shot on goal for the entire match, while the Titans put six attempts on frame, including two Morgan Batcheller headers that were cleared off the line.
In the 62nd minute, Batcheller found her way to the end of a Connie Caliz corner kick, but her header was saved off the line. Again in the 78th minute, her header off the service of a Brianna Chapman corner was saved on the line at the far post.
Michigan State goalkeeper Courtney Clem finished the match with four saves.
Batcheller led the Titans with four shots, while Christina Burkenroad totaled three.
The Titans return to action on Friday, hosting 25th-ranked Denver at 7 p.m., at Titan Stadium. Fullerton will then host Georgia at 1 p.m., Sunday.
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