Cal State Fullerton Match Notes 
| Big West Weekly Release
Cornell Notes (HTML)
FULLERTON, Calif.-- The Cal State Fullerton men's soccer team continues its season-long four-game road swing in New York this weekend, as it takes on Cornell Friday at 5:00 p.m. PT and Colgate at 10 a.m. PT.
There will be live audio streaming available for Cal State Fullerton's game at Colgate. To access video for the match visit www.fullertontitans.com, click the men's soccer schedule page then click the "video" link. No video coverage will be available for the game vs. Cornell.
There will be no audio coverage provided this weekend.
There will be live stats available for both of Cal State Fullerton's soccer matches this weekend. To access live stats for the game visit www.fullertontitans.com, click the men's soccer schedule page then click the "live stats" link.
Follow the Titans!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titans athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/CSUF.Athletics), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) and YouTube.com (YouTube.com/csfathletics). In addition, the men's soccer team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/csufmenssoccer) and Twitter pages (@CSUFMensSoccer).
A Look at the Series...
Cal State Fullerton vs. Cornell
Overall Record 0-1-0
Home Record 0-1-0
Away Record 0-0-0
Neutral Site Record 0-0
Longest Win Streak N/A
Longest Losing Streak 1 game
Current Streak Loss, 1
Record in Last 10 Meetings N/A
First Meeting
Aug. 31, 2012 in Fullerton (L, 1-2)
Last Meeting
Aug. 31, 2012 in Fullerton (L, 1-2)
Series Notes: This will be just the second time these two schools will go head-to-head, with the first ever match coming last year in Fullerton. It was a game the Titans eventually dropped 2-1 in what was a wild finish. Fullerton's Jaime Cano put in a goal in the 82nd minute to equalize things at 1-1, but Cornell's Jake Kirsch turned jubilation into disappointment for Titan fans, as he netted what would be the game winner just over four minutes later in the 86th minute...this will be the first ever meeting at Cornell between these two squads.
Breaking Down the Big Red
Cornell enters the new campaign looking to defend its 2012 Ivy League Championship, as the Big Red went 15-2 overall and 6-1 in league play to earn its first conference title since 1977. Cornell is expected to do big things again this year, as it entered the season ranked as high as No. 22 in the nation by the NSCAA and No. 25 by Top Drawer Soccer. The Big Red return 14 letterwinners from last year while it welcomes in 13 new faces...the Big Red bring back one of the best back lines in the nation in junior Peter Chodas, senior Jake Kirsch, senior Jake Rinow, and senior Patrick Slogic (up for MAC Hermann and Senior CLASS Award)...the group allowed just 13 goals in 17 matches last season...through two games Cornell sports three different players with a goal, including Slogic...Friday will mark Cornell's season home opener.
Cal State Fullerton vs. Colgate
Overall Record 0-0-0
Home Record 0-0-0
Away Record 0-0-0
Neutral Site Record 0-0
Longest Win Streak N/A
Longest Losing Streak N/A
Current Streak N/A
Record in Last 10 Meetings N/A
First Meeting
N/A
Last Meeting
N/A
Series Notes: This will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Rating the Raiders
Colgate brings back six starters and 19 letterwinners from a team that went 5-8-6 overall and 3-1-3 in Patriot League play a year ago...the Raiders are off to a rough start the season, as they've started 0-4 and have been outscored 8-1...sophomore forward Tyler Forbes returns as the team's top point getter and goal scorer from a year ago (Six points on three goals)...Colgate was picked to finish fifth in the Patriot League according to the conference's preseason coaches poll.
Last Time Out For the Titans
San Diego's Sergio Lopez scored the golden goal in the 105th minute of double overtime to seal the come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Cal State Fullerton last Sunday night at Torero Stadium in San Diego.
The loss was the true definition of a heartbreaker for the Titans (1-3), who held a 2-0 lead as late as the 69th minute, after scoring on two of their first four corner kick opportunities.
It was a defensive battle early on as the two clubs combined for just nine shots in the first half with San Diego (1-2) holding the slight 5-4 advantage, but it was Fullerton who was able to make the most of its chances.
Both teams were only able to earn two first half corner kick opportunities, but the Titans were able to turn one of theirs into a score, as midfielder Alex Cannas (1) headed one into the far right corner of the net in the 35th minute, after Ritchie Gonzalez's perfectly placed corner kick to give Fullerton the 1-0 lead.
For Cannas it was his first career goal, as well as his first start as a Titan.
The goal would be enough to give Fullerton the 1-0 advantage at halftime, as a stingy Titan defense kept San Diego's attack at bay.
Fullerton continued with its offensive procession, as the Titans immediately scored again less than two minutes into the second half, as Amara Soumah (1) netted his first career goal, heading one into the back of the net, after the Mark Vasquez corner kick to give Fullerton the comfortable 2-0 lead.
The Titan defense continued to do its job for the next 20-plus minutes of play, until the Toreros were finally able to break through on a counter attack, with Keegan Smith launching one into the upper right corner of the net, to cut the Fullerton advantage to 2-1 in the 69th minute.
Six minutes later USD equalized things at 2-2, as Joey Dei Rossi was able to finish with the header, after the cross from the right side.
The two teams eventually would end regulation tied at 2-2, before going to overtime where USD eventually converted on what seemed to be the inevitable game-winning goal, as it outshot Fullerton 16-4 in the second half and the two overtime periods. The Toreros also ended the match with an 11-5 advantage in shots on goal.
In the Polls
Neither the Titans, Big Red, or Raiders are ranked by the NSCAA or Top Drawer Soccer...Cal State Fullerton is ranked No. 85, Cornell is ranked No. 39, and Colgate is placed at No. 166 by Bennett Rank.
How We Rank
It's early, but the Titans rank first in the Big West in saves (18), third in corner kick opportunities (24), and fourth in assists (5).
Keeping Their Cool
After leading the Big West a year ago in yellow cards issued with 44 for the season, through four matches the Titans are tied for the least amount of cards issued in the Big West with five yellow cards...Fullerton didn't pick up its first caution until the third match of the season (Sept. 6 vs. Loyola Marymount).
Putting it Together
Cal State Fullerton has outscored opponents 3-2, outshot opponents 23-20, and have a 12-5 corner kick advantage vs. the opposition in the first half this season. However, the Titans have been outscored (5-1), outshot (46-27), and have lost corner kick battle 14-12 in the second half and overtime.
Oh So Close
Two of Fullerton's three losses this season have come by just one goal, including a double overtime, 3-2 defeat to San Diego last Sunday. In the two one-goal losses, both game-winning goals have come in the 73rd minute or later (73rd minute vs. Memphis and 106th minute at San Diego).
What's Trending
Cal State Fullerton has had either more or the same amount of corner kicks as the opposition in three of four matches this season...the Titans have been outshot in two straight contests...keeper Bryan Escalante has had more saves than the opponent's goalkeeper in two consecutive games...at least one Titan has been issued a yellow card in two games in a row.
Start em, Score em
Junior midfielder Alex Cannas and junior forward Amara Soumah each made their first career starts and both scored their first career goals last Sunday in San Diego...Marc Fenelus and David Beary also made their first career starts that game.
Mr. Efficient
Senior midfelder Ritchie Gonzalez has taken a total of just three shots so far this season, but all three have been shots on goal with one finding the back of the net...he leads the team in total points (3) and is tied for the team lead in goals scored (1).
(Double) Overtime Agony
Before last Sunday's double overtime loss at San Diego, the Titans hadn't lost in five consecutive extra time contests during that span...last overtime defeat was Nov. 4, 2009 at Cal State Northridge...last double overtime loss was Nov. 5, 2008 also vs. Cal State Northridge.
Road Struggles
Cal State Fullerton has dropped three consecutive road contests going back to last season and is 1-12-2 in its last 15 road affairs going back to the 2011 campaign...the Titans have been outscored 30-11 during that 15-game span.
Save This Stat
Cal State Fullerton goalkeeper Bryan Escalante leads the Big West in saves this season with 18...his 18 saves also ranks 21st most nationally.
On The Road Again
The Titans are in the midst of a season-long four-game road swing after already playing a match at San Diego (Sept. 8). Now Fullerton heads across the country to play Cornell (Sept. 13), Colgate (Sept. 15), and Nebraska-Omaha (Sept. 21). During this stretch the Titans will travel over 8,700 miles in 15 days in the program's longest road trip since the 2006 season (also a four-game road swing).
Recycled Notes
Milestone Moment
Cal State Fullerton's 2-1 win over Albany on Sept. 1 marked head coach Bob Ammann's 50th career win as a Titan head coach...Al Mistri is the only other Titan head coach that has more wins with 264.
Men's Soccer Ticket Information
Single-game tickets for regular season matches are priced $5-$8. Tickets for future games can be purchased at FullertonTitans.com, in-person at Cal State Fullerton's Athletic Ticket Office (M-F 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.) or over the phone at 657-278-7547. Game day ticket sales will also be available starting one hour before kickoff at the ticket windows outside Titan Stadium.
All Cal State Fullerton students are admitted FREE to regular season men's soccer home games. Each student must present a valid Titan Card at the main entrance to Titan Stadium for admission. All student sections are general admission. Admission is first-come, first-served and based on availability. Just show your Titan Card for admittance.
Titans Tabbed Third in Big West Media Poll
Cal State Fullerton was selected to finished third in the Big West South Division according to the Big West preseason coaches' poll, which was released on Aug. 22nd by the league office, making the Titans favorites to earn a trip to the Big West Conference Tournament for a third time in four seasons.
Defending South Division champion Cal State Northridge garnered the respect of the league once again this year, as it was picked as the preseason favorite to win the South for a second straight year, collecting six first place votes and 30 points overall.
Orange County rival UC Irvine finished second in the South voting, earning 21 points overall (one first place vote), followed by the Titans (one first place vote) and UC Riverside, each accumulating 16 and 13 points respectively.
There was less of a clear favorite in the North Division with three teams being separated by four points or less in the polls.
UC Santa Barbara got the nod as the slight favorite to come out of the North Division, collecting five first place votes to go along with 25 points overall. 2012 North Division Champions UC Davis finished just behind the Gauchos with 23 points and three first place votes.
Traditional powerhouse Cal Poly also looks to contend this season, as it garnered 21 points to claim a third place spot in the poll, while Sacramento State was picked fourth with 11 points.
Straight From the Coach's Mouth
Be sure to visit www.fullertontitans.com and click on the men's soccer page to watch the 2013 men's soccer season preview video featuring head coach Bob Ammann.
Eyeing Ian (Ramos)
Junior Titan midfielder Ian Ramos was selected to the Big West's 11-man preseason all-conference squad. Ramos enters the season as one the most dynamic players in the league, as he led the Titans in points, goals, shots, and shots on goal during conference play a season ago.
A Brand New Look
A new team, a new year, and yes new jerseys. After being outfitted by adidas for numerous years, both the men and women's soccer programs have switched to new Nike kits for the 2013 season.
The home jerseys sport blue and orange horizontal stripes across the top with blue "Fullerton" lettering across the chest, complete with blue shorts and blue socks on the bottom.
The away jerseys for the men feature a white top with an orange sash with navy blue trim extending from the left shoulder down to the right hip. Orange "Fullerton" lettering is printed across the chest, along with shorts and matching white socks.
(A Lot of) New Kids on the Block
2013 truly represents a new era of Titan soccer, as the program welcomes in the largest class of new players in the Bob Ammann era, with 16 newcomers (11 freshman and five transfers).
New Experience?
While Fullerton holds one of the younger squads in the nation, that doesn't mean the Titans don't hold plenty of experience. Out of Fullerton's 11 newcomers, five of them are transfers in forward Marc Fenelus, midfielder Garrett Losee, midfielder Alex Cannas, forward Amara Soumah, and midfielder Erik Stephenson. Forwards Fenelus and Soumah were both named as NJCAA First Team All-Americans in 2012, while Fenelus also led Western Texas College to its first ever National Junior College National Championship appearance.
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Cal State Fullerton boasts a rigorous eight-game non-conference schedule, which includes six games away from Titan Stadium. For the season the Titans will play four teams that are either ranked or received votes in the NSCAA's preseason top 25 poll. Fullerton will take on ranked opponents in back-to-back games on the road on Sept. 8 at No. 16 San Diego and Sept. 13 at No. 22 Cornell. Once the Titans enter Big West play, Fullerton will continue to take on top-tier competition, as it'll face Cal State Northridge twice and UC Santa Barbara once. Both schools received top 25 votes.
Road Trippin'
The Titans will play 11 of their 18 (61 percent) regular season games away from Titan Stadium this season, which is the most since Fullerton also spent 11 games away from home during the 2009 campaign. Six of Fullerton's eight non-conference games will be away from home, including six of the first seven contests to begin the year. The six non-conference games away from home are the most Fullerton has had since it played seven in 2008. The Aug. 30 regular season opener vs. Memphis will mark the first time the Titans have started a season on the road since 2010.
Roster Breakdown
The Titans currently have 29 players on the 2013 roster. 20 players are from the state of California, five are from outside of the United States, three are from Utah, and one is from Colorado.
Filling in the Holes
Cal State Fullerton returns just 26 percent (7) of the team's 27 goals scored last season, 55 percent (12/22) of all assists produced, and 46 percent of shots taken (139/299).
Better Chance to Dance
The Big West Tournament format has changed in 2013. Now instead of the top two teams from each division qualifying for the conference tournament, starting this year the top three teams from both the North and South divisions will advance to postseason play with each division's No. 1 seed receiving a first round bye, for a total of six teams in the field. The tournament schedule is as followed:
Tuesday, November 12 - First Round
Friday, November 15 - Semifinals
Sunday, November 17 - Championship