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FULLERTON, Calif.--- It was only an exhibition game, but it sure didn't feel like it, as Garrett Losee's hat trick fueled a 3-2 Titan win over UNLV in front of an electric crowd, Thursday night at Titan Stadium.
While the statistics won't technically carry over into the regular season, Losee's hat trick is tied for the most goals any Titan has scored in a match since Ian Ramos netted three scores last season in a 5-4 win over then ranked No. 14 Cal State Northridge on Oct. 17.
The BYU transfer has scored four of Fullerton's five goals this preseason, but none were bigger as the one he netted in the 78th minute Thursday night, after midfielder Mark Vasquez played in a ball from the left side, to put the Titans on top 3-2 and seal up the victory.
Losee led all players in goals, shots, and shots on goal, with nine and four respectively.
While the score line was close throughout, the Titans never trailed, as they got on top early after Vasquez played in a ball perfectly from the right wing, producing the first of his game-high two assists, after Losee guided the ball into the lower left corner in the 11th minute, for his first of three goals on the night.
Fullerton kept the pressure coming, as the Titans struck again just 12 minutes later, after midfielder Jordan Wolff served a up a beautiful volley to Losee, who punched it in for goal number two on the night.
However, UNLV refused to go away, striking back immediately just over three minutes later in the 26th minute, as Joaquin Rivas converted on a well placed cross in by Kevin Partida to make it a 2-1 contest.
Despite being outshot overall 7-to-6 and 2-0 on corner kicks, the Titans held a 2-1 advantage at the break.
The Rebels would soon make things interesting and equalize things at 2-2, as they scored their second unanswered goal in the 53rd minute, after Kevin Partida eventually found the back of the net in a wild scramble in the box.
While UNLV was able to tie things up, it were the Titans who owned the second half, out-shooting the Rebels 14-to-5, and it only seemed like a matter of time before they would break through. They eventually did, to wrap up the match and the exhibition season.
The Titans will kick off their 2013 regular season on Aug. 30 vs. Memphis in Northridge, California.