Posted: Oct 30, 2014
Box Score (PDF)
FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton men's soccer team lost a heart-breaking Big West South Division game to UC Irvine Wednesday night at Titan Stadium after Mario Ortiz scored a late game-winning goal to give the Anteaters a 1-0 victory over the Titans.
The goal, created by a great display of passing by UC Irvine midfielders Gerardo Gonzalez and Noah Gaines, was Ortiz's third of the year. Gonzalez started the play by passing to Gaines just inside the Fullerton box, with his back facing Titan goalkeeper Jeff Salt, Gaines completed a one-touch pass to Ortiz. The sophomore midfielder took his time on the ball, making a move before placing the ball into the far left netting, past a diving Salt, giving the Anteaters a 1-0 lead in the 85th minute.
The goal would prove to be enough for the Anteaters. The momentum of the game never seemed to favor one team until the last five minutes of play despite Fullerton leading in shots, 13-10, and corner kicks, 7-6. The Titans could not find a way past Anteater goalkeeper Michael Breslin, taking their second consecutive 1-0 loss to UC Irvine.
The best chance for the Titans came in the 90th minute when Mark Vasquez came streaking down the left side of the field and found himself alone on Breslin. Even from the tough angle Vasquez got the shot away with plenty of power behind it. Breslin got just enough of the ball to slow it down, and as it trickled toward the goal line, a UCI defender cleared it keeping the score 1-0.
UCI earned an important three points in the competitive Big West South Division, and with the UC Riverside win over CSUN tonight, UCR jumps into second and drops Fullerton in the standings to third.
The Titans get a chance to return the favor at Titan Stadium on Saturday at 7:00 p.m., as they take on UC Riverside in another important Big West South Division game.
Notes: UC Irvine extended its all-time series lead against Fullerton, the Titans are now 19-24-7 versus the Anteaters…With the win, UCI sweeps the season series against the Titans, the last time the Anteaters swept a season series against Fullerton was in 2011…This is only the Titans second home defeat of the season, the only other one coming on Sep. 5, 2-1 to San Francisco, Fullerton is now 5-2-0 at Titan Stadium in 2014… UC Irvine took sole leadership of the Big West South Division with the win tonight and now have 13 points, UC Riverside jumped into the number two slot with 11 points by way of their victory over CSUN, Fullerton dropped to number three with 10 points, and CSUN is still in fourth with seven points…Saturday's game against UC Riverside will be the last regular season home game for Titan seniors.