FULLLERTON, Calif. – Rebecca Wilson's 10th goal of the season led the Cal State Fullerton women's soccer team to a 1-0 shutout over UC Riverside on Sunday night at Titan Stadium as the Titans clinched a berth in the 2014 Big West Tournament.
In the 32nd minute, Wilson scored her team-leading 10th goal of the year, placing senior defender Colleen Ortega's cross from the right side to the high near post and out of reach of UCR (7-7-3, 2-4-1 Big West) goalkeeper Elizabeth Silas. The play began when senior Brianna Chapman worked her way through the center of the midfield and found Ortega open out wide.
The Titans (6-7-4, 4-0-2 Big West), the defending Big West Conference Tournament champions, are on a six-match unbeaten streak and remain the only undefeated team in Big West games.
"This is a great accomplishment for the program to be able to battle the way that we have through the course of the conference season," head coach Demian Brown said. "To now know that we are in the conference tournament is a tremendous achievement. We look forward to continue to train and get healthy as we take on UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly next week with the goal of trying to win the conference regular season title."
With two regular season games remaining on Thursday and Sunday, Cal State Fullerton is tied for second in the Big West standings with Long Beach State as both clubs have totaled 14 points. Cal Poly is at the top of the standings with 15 points.
Cal State Fullerton outshot the Highlanders 12-3, and produced two more opportunities in the first half after Wilson's goal. Christina Burkenroad's free kick in the 40th minute from just outside the top of the box forced a fingertip save from Silas at the crossbar, while in the 42nd minute, Silas made a diving save on Wilson, who was in one-one-one vs. the goalkeeper after she was able to beat the last UCR defender on a breakaway.
After setting up Wilson's goal in the first half, Ortega also cleared Amanda Apellan's shot in the 57th minute off the line after the cross from the right curved toward the left corner over the reach of Titan goalkeeper Jennifer Stuart.
Stuart made one save during the game and recorded her third shutout of the year, for the Titans, it was their fifth shutout of the season.
Wilson's 10 goals tie for sixth in Cal State Fullerton single-season history. The last Titan to complete the feat was Kandace Wilson in 2004.
The Titans return to action on Thursday at UC Santa Barbara before closing the regular season against Cal Poly at 2 p.m., Sunday at Titan Stadium.
The match will be aired on ESPN3 and will feature the 2013 Big West Regular season champions in Cal Poly and the 2013 Big West Tournament champions in the Titans.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7wAPA8pEYk
Sunday will also mark senior day for Cal State Fullerton's five seniors: Adriana Gjonovich, Chelsey Patterson, Lauren Stupin, Chapman and Ortega. Titan fans will be invited to join the team on the field following the match for autographs.
Cal State Fullerton will be making its ninth Big West Tournament appearance when the Titans travel to San Luis Obispo, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 6, for the semifinals. It will also mark the third straight Big West Tournament appearance for Fullerton.
Notes: Cal State Fullerton has clinched a spot in the 2014 Big West Tournament, making the Titans ninth overall appearance and third consecutive…Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series with UCR, 8-5-3…the Titans are unbeaten in their last six matches (4-0-2), their longest undefeated streak since producing an 11-match winning streak from Oct. 7-Nov. 13, 2005…Rebecca Wilson's 10 goals lead Fullerton and tie for sixth in CSF single-season history. She is the last player to score 10 goals in a single season since Kandace Wilson in 2004…she has now scored nine goals in her last nine games, totaling 19 points…Wilson is also the last Titan to record three game-winning goals in a single season since Casey Volk totaled four in 2010...the Titans are an undefeated 5-0 when scoring the first goal of the game…in regulation, CSF has outscored opponents 20-11…Fullerton recorded its fifth shutout of the year…14 of Fullerton's 17 games have been decided by one goal or less.