FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton women's soccer lost the first match of the 2018 season by a score of 1-0 to BYU in the first extra time period. BYU was potent in the attack all game but sophomore goalkeeper Tianna Sanders kept CSF in the game with 11 saves but Madie Gates' PK in the 96th minute slipped right past her to secure the win for the Cougars.

Rachel Lyman of BYU made a run up the right side of the 18-yard box and was fouled by junior Sarah Davidson to draw the penalty kick. Davidson was presented a yellow card and Gates took the shot for the Cougars.

"That's a very good BYU team and they came in and put some massive pressure on us," head coach Demian Brown said. "For our women, and for the time of the year that it is, to be able to play a team like this and experience this pressure from a top Division I team is exactly what we need to grow and now move forward."

BYU had 20 total shots on the night, 10 first half, eight in the second and two in the final period. The Titans recorded five shots in the first half but just one was on target and only six for the game. Freshman Kristen Swales had arguably the best chance of the game when she headed an in-swinging ball from Delaney Dombek Lindahl but it was just wide of the target.

"I thought there were some things we did very well," Brown said. "I thought we at times could've snuck away in the match but at the end of it there were some little things that were part of the breakdown that led to some of their opportunities and in the end the goal."

Sanders was a brick wall for the Titans. In her first-career start, she recorded seven saves in the first half and 11 for the game including some shots at point blank range for the Cougars.

"She was the Woman of the Match for us, for sure," Brown said. "I thought she made some great saves for us in the first half but again it's those types of defensive breakdowns that we have to grow from, learn from and be better the next match. Being tested the way we were is only going to make us better through the rest of this season."

The Titans return to action on Sunday at 5 p.m. PT against another West Coast Conference foe in St. Mary's.

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