Box Score (PDF)
FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton freshmen Brandon West, Ronaldo Pineda and Ross McPhie all scored goals en route to the Titans' ninth shutout of the season, tying the record books by shutting down UC Irvine 3-0 at Titan Stadium on Saturday night.
Cal State Fullerton's (9-5-1, 4-1-1 BWC) goalkeeper David Rodriguez Elias made history by tying the record books for shutouts in a single season by recording his ninth of 2015, tying Mike Ammann who posted nine in 1993. Elias logged four saves tonight, bringing his season total to 42 and lowering his goals against average to 0.78.
The Titan defense was solid tonight, converting plenty of opportunities for the Titan offense that the freshmen took advantage of.
The Titans held down their home field by scoring early in the match when McPhie found West with a great ball who then headed up the field through the Anteater defense, getting it past UCI keeper Breslin hitting the back right net. West's goal was his third of the season, all three of them being game-winners.
The scoring continued in the second half when West found Pineda 10 yards out who then laid a perfect volley that wrapped just under the crossbar, netting his second goal of the year. Pineda also had a shot earlier in the match that barely missed inches high, logging his two shots on the night.
The last Titan goal came in the 73rd minute when a pass back from Robert Coronado found the foot of McPhie inside the box who punched it past Breslin for the final goal of the night.
The rematch of the 2014 Big West Tournament Championship game displayed a strong Titan defense which held the Anteaters to seven shots while defending six corner kicks en route to their seventh home victory.
The Titans seventh win this season is the most at Titan Stadium since the Titans posted a 10-1-0 record at home in 2000. Cal State Fullerton is also on a five game home winning streak, matching their longest home streak in 2014 when they won five straight home matches.
Cal State Fullerton returns home on Wednesday night, hosting Cal State Northridge at Titan Stadium at 7 p.m. to continue South Division play.
NOTES: Prior to today's match, Fullerton and Irvine alum played each other in an alumni game on the Titan track…. Out of Fullerton's nine wins, seven of them have come at Titan Stadium, all seven of them were shutouts… Fullerton has allowed only three goals and have held opponents to a .051 shot percentage at home…. The Titans have outscored opponents this season 22-12, 8-2 in the Big West…. Tonight was the largest victory the Titans have had over the Anteaters since they beat them 3-0 at Titan Stadium in 1995.
