Sept. 26, 2008
FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton freshman Stacey Fox scored twice and senior Jenae Gibbens netted her third game-winning goal of the year as the host Titans snapped a five-match winless streak with a 3-1 victory over San Diego State on Friday night at Titan Stadium.
Fullerton (5-4-1 overall) won for the first time since defeating Alabama, 3-1, on Sept. 5 and scored one more goal on Friday night than it had in its previous five matches combined. San Diego State fell to 3-5-1 overall on the season with the loss.
With the score tied at one, Gibbens put the Titans ahead for good in the 52nd minute with her third game-winning goal of the year. Sophomore Christina Murillo sent one of Fullerton's five corners on the night into the middle of the box, finding the head of Gibbens, who headed it home into the left side upper netting for the 2-1 advantage.
Fox, who tied the score in the 27th minute with her second goal of the season off a nifty sequence of passes by Murillo and Danielle Bitonti, added an insurance score just two minutes after Gibbens' goal. Fox headed home a corner from teammate Geminesse Martinez to the left post for the final 3-1 advantage.
San Diego State got on the board first in the 21st minute as Heather Vandevanter netted her second goal of the year. Jillian Riker took the corner from the left side and swung it into the box for Vandevanter, who buried the header into the right side netting to give the Aztecs the early lead.
Fullerton trailed in the shot column, 12-10, but seven of the Titans' shots on the night were on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Shannon Simpson made four saves on the night before leaving in the 81st minute due to an injury suffered while diving to reach a shot by the Aztecs' Taylor Canatsey. Freshman Margaret Dupes made her second appearance of the year in relief, making one save in just over nine minutes of action.
Aubree Southwick made four saves in net for San Diego State, which had four players log two shots on the night to pace the offense. Fox, Janae Deas, and Caitlin Mellano each had two shots to lead Cal State Fullerton.
The Titans continue their homestand with a mid-week contest on Tuesday (Sept. 30) at 7 p.m. as they welcome Hawaii to Titan Stadium.