Sept. 27, 2009
FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton sophomore Stacey Fox netted the equalizer with just eight seconds remaining in regulation helping the Titans erase a one-goal deficit and gain a dramatic 1-1 draw with visiting Washington on Sunday evening at Titan Stadium.
Fullerton moved to 2-5-2 overall on the season with the tie - it's second 1-1 decision of the year. Washington moved to 6-2-1 overall on the season, playing in its second straight overtime contest after defeating UC Irvine, 3-2, in extra time on Friday night.
The Huskies dominated the run of play, outshooting the Titans by an 18-8 count and amassing 10 corner kicks to just one for Fullerton. However, it was the single corner for the Titans that brought them even just a minute and a half after Washington took the lead.
With time ticking down in regulation, junior Tanya Slusser sent the cross into a mob on the back post where sophomore Caitlin Mellano somehow headed it back to the near post where Fox volleyed it home for her first score of the season.
That came just moments after Washington finally took advantage of its 15th shot on the night as Nikki Murray unleashed a blast from 20 yards out that looked like it was stopped by keeper Jordan-Michelle Santos, but the momentum caused the ball to roll off her fingers and just over the line for the first score of the match.
Fullerton had two golden chances in regulation to take the lead, using the final five minutes to mount a threat. The first came at the 5:20 mark when Slusser sent a cross into the box, but the pass was volleyed just over the net by Jennifer Smith.
with just over two minutes to play, freshman Brisa Gonzalez had a ball deflect off a Washington defender back toward the Huskies' goal with only keeper Kari Davidson ahead of her. Gonzalez got to the 50-50 ball first and tried to loop a shot over the charging keeper, but Davidson got a finger on it and collided with Gonzalez in the process, drawing a card just as both reached the top of the box.
Junior Danielle Bitonti then took her shot on the ensuing free kick, weaving a ball through traffic, but right into the arms of a diving Davidson to keep the match scoreless.
Santos finished with five saves on the night in net for the Titans, three of those coming in the first 10 minutes as the Huskies turned up the heat. Davidson had three stops for Washington. The two teams combined for 33 fouls on the night (21 of those for the Huskies) and five cards.
Cal State Fullerton stays home for its next match on Thursday (Oct. 1) as the Titans host Cal State Bakersfield at 7 p.m. Fullerton then opens Big West Conference play on the road on Sunday (Oct. 4) as the Titans travel to UC Riverside for a 6 p.m. contest under the lights in the Inland Empire.