LAS VEGAS – Cal State Fullerton forward Alex Heilmann gave the Cal State Fullerton men's soccer squad its first lead of the season in the 34th minute on Friday night and the Titans didn't look back as they went on to defeat the Rebels, 3-1.
"UNLV is a well-coached team and are difficult to play at home for their opening game," coach George Kuntz said. "It was a great team effort and an outstanding performance from ALex Heilmann who has four goals in three games. Overall, I as happy with our defending with the exception of one lapse in the first half for them. We must be better at finishing because we had many opportunities that we missed. That's the next area we will concentrate on. I'm happy for the team and university to get that first one now, we must work, focus and continue to get better."
With the victory, Fullerton moves to 1-2-0 on the season and collects its 20th all-time win against UNLV (1-2-0) and currently leads the series between both programs 20-13-2.
"It felt great to get our first of many wins this season and I'm glad I was able to help get that going for us tonight," Heilmann said.
The Titans got off to a quick start as Ronaldo Pineda drew a quick corner that lead to a nice sequence of touches in the box for Fullerton, but they couldn't find a goal early.
Possession was a key part to Fullerton's first half success as they continued to get close chances with Diego Sanchez almost connecting on a long volley and Pineda having a shot bounce off the left post in the 30th minute.
Alex Heilmann would change the fortune for the Titans as a number of passes built up to the ball finding its way into the center of the box where the senior tapped to the right of UNLV's Nathan Bohm to give CSUF a 1-0 advantage.
The defense from the Fullerton backline in the first half was stellar as they didn't allow the Rebels to do anything in the attacking half by not allowing a shot or corner in the half.
In the final 45 minutes, UNLV got the half started with an equalizer as Wayde Scibilia knotted the score at one with a goal from close.
Just moments later, Pineda looked to answer for the Titans as a few nice moves from the sophomore gave him a strong chance at goal that was blocked and landed right in front of Sanchez who rocketed a shot from just inside the box, but Rebel Tyler Allen would keep the ball from going into the net.
With both teams looking for a late-winner, only one would prevail as the Titans looked to their senior Heilmann who gave them the lead earlier in the game.
After inducing a corner, Nicolo D'Amoto floated the corner kick over a number of Rebels right into the head of Heilmann who put the ball into the top right of the net to score his second goal of the contest and give Fullerton a 2-1 edge late.
"Credit to my teammates around me that set me up for good goal scoring opportunities and I'm happy I was able to find the back of the net on all three," Heilmann said.
Heilmann wasn't done as he added another goal for some insurance in the 85th to give the Titans a 3-1 lead with five minutes left. The La Habra native now has four goals on the season and recorded his first career hat trick.
"It was a great team effort tonight, but now we are focusing on the next game," Heilmann said.
Up next for Cal State Fullerton is a familiar foe in Santa Clara on Sunday at 9 p.m. PT in Las Vegas. The two teams met in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season where the Broncos beat the Titans, 3-0, in Fullerton.