Sept. 25, 2009
Fullerton, Calif. - Ross Kelly scored on a header in the 28th minute for Coastal Carolina and Michael Denny of Cal State Fullerton matched it with a penalty kick in the 62nd minute as the two teams played to a 1-1 tie in the opening round Friday night of the Big West Challenge men's soccer tournament at Cal State Fullerton.
Fullerton's record is now 4-2-1 while the Chanticleers are 2-2-3.
Earlier, Cal State Northridge and University of Denver played to a scoreless tie in the tourney opener.
Kelly's header came from the 6-yard line as he re-directed a free kick from about 35 yards by Robert Hunter past Titan goalkeeper Trevor Whiddon, who had no chance on the play.
Denny's kick to the lower right corner came after Coastal goalkeeper Scott Angevine took down the Titans' Oscar Aguero in the penalty box.
Fullerton outshot the visitors, 17-8, with Whiddon making 3 saves and Angevine making 4.
Each team had a defender save a goal. Fullerton's Shay Spitz was on both ends of that play. In about the fifth minute, his shot from a sharp angle left bounced off a Coastal defender and was headed for the net but Cyprian Hedrick kicked it away. Spitz then saved the game for the Titans in the first overtime period when he was stationed at the near post and blocked Joseph Anderson's blast after a corner kick.
Fullerton had an apparent goal by Jamall Farquharson waved off late in regulation due to a foul on a teammate. Fullerton's Matt Sanders hit the right post with a shot late in regulation as well.
In the opening game Friday, Cal State Northridge dominated the first half but a scoreless tie at intermission prevailed for a more even 65 minutes as the Matadors and the University of Denver played to a scoreless tie.
Northridge outshot the Pioneers, 14-1, in the first half and 28-12 for the game and left with a 5-1-1 record. Denver, which got 10 saves from goalkeeper Joe Willis, remained even at 2-2-2.
The closest thing to a goal occurred four minutes into the final overtime period. The Matadors' Cameron Sims came up with the ball on the left flank after a corner kick and his cross either went into the net or was followed in by Sunghyun Kim, but the call was moot since Kim was ruled offsides.
Michael Abalos made 6 saves for the Matadors.
On Sunday it will be Denver vs. Cal State Fullerton and CSUN vs. Coastal Carolina. The doubleheader begins at 11 a.m.