Oct. 14, 2005
FULLERTON, CA -
Some information courtesy Cal Poly media relations...
Cal State Fullerton junior Lauryn Welch and senior Kandace Wilson each scored goals, including Welch's game-winner in the 56th minute, as the No. 24 Titans defeated Cal Poly, 2-0, on Friday night at Mustang Stadium.
The victory pushed the Titans' record to 11-3 overall, 3-1 in the Big West Conference while extending their winning streak to three straight. The Mustangs fell to 9-3-3 overall, 1-2 in league action.
Titan junior goalkeeper Karen Bardsley notched her 14th career shutout, breaking Laura Janke's school record that had stood since 2003. It was also Bardsley's sixth shutout of the 2005 season, tying Janke's single-season mark from the 2003 season.
Fullerton took control of the game early, peppering Cal Poly goalkeeper Liz Hill with a barrage of shots. Hill faced eight shots in the first half ,saving five of them. Cal Poly only managed four shots in the half, with the first not coming until the 26th minute of play.
Fullerton had complete control of the first half, not allowing a shot on goal until the final minute of the first half, when Sharon Day found a loose ball in front of the net, but goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was there to corral the shot like she did much of the night.
Two-time Big West defensive player of the year Sierra Simmons did everything she could to keep the Titans from breaking the scorless tie, defeating many of Cal State Fullerton's one-on-one offensive threats in the first half and early in the second half.
The Titans continued to pour it on and eventually the Mustang defense succombed as defender Erin Shelton set Welch up for a header two feet in front of Hill in the 56th minute. It was Welch's third goal of the season.
Cal Poly continued trying to crack the Cal State Fullerton defense as Mustang scoring leaders Sharon Day and Becky Clark began finding open shots. Bardsley was up to the task all night, however, coming up with five saves on eight Cal Poly shots.
The Titans added a back-breaking goal in the 73rd minute as Fullerton scoring leader Kandace Wilson rifled a shot from 35 yards away into the top corner of the goal past a shocked Cal Poly defense. It was Wilson's fifth goal of the season.
Cal Poly was outshot 15-8 and and held the advantage in fouls 15-12.
The 2-0 home loss ends a streak of 23 straight games without a loss for Cal Poly inside the friendly confines of Mustang Stadium. The Mustangs' last home loss came against UC Irvine on October 27, 2002, 2-0. The two Big West losses this season marks the first time the Mustangs have lost more then one conference game since 2001 when Cal Poly dropped three matches.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 16) at 1 p.m. as the Titans take on UC Santa Barbara at Harder Stadium.