Sept. 24, 2010
SAN DIEGO, CA - Senior Christina Murillo and junior Casey Volk each found the back of the net on Friday, helping lift visiting Cal State Fullerton to a 2-1 road win over San Diego State and snapping a four-game losing streak in the process.
The victory improved the Titans to 3-6 overall on the season, winning for the first time during their extended six-match road trip and winning their fourth in the last five against SDSU. The Aztecs fell to 2-6-3 overall, extending their winless streak to four straight (0-3-1).
Murillo, who entered the match as the team's leading scorer, netted her fifth of the year in the 35th minute to give Fullerton the early advantage. The long-distance rocket off her left foot from 25 yards out snuck inside the right post for the 1-0 lead.
It was the 16th career goal for the senior, giving her sole possession of eighth place on the school's all-time scoring list, and her 36th career point, which puts her ninth in school history. Murillo has accounted for four of the team's last seven goals.
The score remained that way until the eighth minute of the second half when Volk came through with her second of the year to give the Titans' a little breathing room. The junior floated one into the upper right corner from 20 yards out to make it a 2-0 contest.
That's when San Diego State began to turn up the heat as the Aztecs began to pour it on in a comeback attempt. SDSU, which posted nine of its 12 shots in the second half, forced Fullerton keeper Jordan-Michelle Santos to make four of her five saves in the period before finally breaking up the shutout.
The Aztecs cut the Titans' lead in half in the 76th minute as Megan McQueeny took a shot, colliding with Santos in the process, as the ball found its way to the feet of Marisa Fraticelli, who punched it home from six yards out to make it 2-1. Santos was forced to leave the match as sophomore Jessica Change came on to finish.
Fullerton held strong and looked to put one more home before the final whistle, but shots by Volk and Danielle Bitonti in the final eight minutes were smothered by SDSU keeper Aubree Southwick.
San Diego State outshot Fullerton, 12-8, for the match while corners were tied at three apiece. Fouls were 11-4 against the Titans, who also were carded three times on the afternoon. Volk had three shots to lead Cal State Fullerton, sharing game-high honors with Halverson for the Aztecs.
The Titans close out their road trip with another afternoon contest next Friday (Oct. 1) at 4 p.m. as they travel to Loyola Marymount.