Oct. 16, 2009
FULLERTON, CA - The Cal State Fullerton women's soccer team played a man up for the final minute-plus of regulation and both overtimes, but the Titans could not break a 1-1 deadlock with visiting UC Irvine on Friday night in front of 425 fans at Titan Stadium.
The draw was Fullerton's fourth of the season, setting a new school record while eclipsing the previous mark of three ties set in 1994. The Titans (3-7-4, 1-2-1 in the Big West Conference) have played overtime five times this season, posting a 0-1-4 mark in those contests.
UCI moved to 9-5-2 overall, 2-2-1 in league play with the draw.
Anteater goalkeeper Danielle de Seriere drew a red card with 1:31 to play in regulation as she came out and tackled Fullerton sophomore Elena Catania just outside the box as Catania had broken free from the UCI defense and was one-on-one with de Seriere on a clear breakaway.
However, defense ruled the final 21-plus minutes as the two teams could manage just two shots the rest of the way. Junior Tamara Dewey's free kick off the restart from the red card sailed wide right for Fullerton and a header by Dana Sanderlin with just over a minute remaining in the second overtime for UC Irvine was saved by junior keeper Shannon Simpson to preserve the deadlock.
The Titans got on the board first in the 52nd minute as junior Christina Murillo converted off a pass from teammate Jennifer Smith for the 1-0 lead. Smith sent a low pass into the top of the area where Murillo corralled the pass, settled, and unleashed a rocket to the left side-netting for her first goal of the year.
The goal was the first for Fullerton since the Titans defeated UC Riverside, 1-0, on Oct. 4, snapping a streak of 261:37 without a goal.
UC Irvine answered back with just under 13 minutes to play as Sanderlin took advantage of a misclear by the Fullerton defense for her sixth goal of the season. Devon Delarosa sent a cross through the middle of the box where it was deflected by a defender to a wide open Sanderlin on the right side. The freshman then struck it low and banked it off the right post and in to tie the match at one apiece.
The Titans had another chance to win it in regulation as freshman Brisa Gonzalez broke free from the Anteater defense with just over three minutes to play and lofted a shot that was chested down and cleared by Alyssa Humphrey for the UCI defense to keep the match tied.
The Anteaters held a slim 9-8 advantage in the shot column and an 11-6 lead in corner kicks on the night. Sanderlin and Nikki Forrest led UC Irvine with two shots on the night while Gonzalez and JeAnne Mazeau tallied a pair each for the Titans.
Simpson made four saves on the night in net for Fullerton while de Seriere had a pair in 88 minutes before being ejected. Kala Gabler did not make a save in relief.
Cal State Fullerton returns to the pitch on Sunday night (Oct. 18) at 6 p.m. as the Titans host Cal State Northridge at Titan Stadium.