Oct. 28, 2007
RIVERSIDE, CA - Cal State Fullerton sophomore Tanya Slusser and senior Lauren Cram each scored second half goals to help lift the visiting Titans to their fourth-straight victory, a 2-1 win over host UC Riverside in a Big West Conference women's soccer match on Sunday afternoon in Riverside, Calif.
The win was Fullerton's third straight in the series as it improved to 10-6-1 overall on the year and 5-2 in league play. With the win, the Titans reached double-digit wins for the fourth-straight year and the sixth time in the last seven.
The Highlanders fell to 8-8-1 overall on the season with the loss and 2-4-1 in Big West play.
Fullerton fell behind early thanks to a goal by UCR's Denise Thomas with just under four minutes remaining in the first half. Thomas capitalized off a turnover by the Titans', unleashing a blast from 10 yards out for her first goal of the year and the 1-0 lead.
The goal ended Fullerton's shutout streak at just over 311 minutes dating back to an overtime loss to No. 6 Santa Clara on Oct. 12.
However, adjustments made at halftime turned the tide in favor of the Titans as Slusser netted the equalizer in the 50th minute. Teammate Brianna Buffington took a shot from point-blank range that was saved by goalkeeper Brittany Goetz, but the rebound fell right to Slusser, who sent a rocket into the net from 15 yards out to make it 1-1.
It was the second goal of the year for Slusser and her first since the Santa Clara game. For Buffington, it was her first career assist as a Titan after scoring 12 career goals over the course of the past two seasons.
Fullerton then took the lead for good in the 66th minute as Cram struck for her third game-winner and team-best sixth goal of the year. Following a foul against the Highlanders, freshman Geminesse Martinez sent a long pass forward to Cram, who collected the ball and fired from 12 yards out for the 2-1 advantage.
The Titans' defense then held firm, allowing four shots by the Highlanders the rest of the way. Junior goalkeeper Shayla Sabin turned away UCR's Jenna Leonti's bid for the tying goal with a save in the 81st minute for her only save of the match.
Cal State Fullerton outshot UC Riverside, 19-7, for the game, amassing the most shots in a match since the Titans took 22 shots in a 3-2 win at Fresno State in Sept. 30. Fullerton also applied the pressure offensively, taking 12 corners on the afternoon - including seven in the second half.
Fullerton returns to action next week with a pair of home matches to close out the regular season. The Titans will host UC Irvine on Thursday night (Nov. 1) at 7 p.m. in the Big West finale before welcoming No. 11 San Diego to Titan Stadium on Sunday night (Nov. 4) at 6 p.m. in the regular season finale before the Big West Tournament.