Oct. 4, 2006
Fullerton, Calif. - Taylor Canel's free-kick goal from 28 yards straight out with about 12 minutes to play carried Cal State Northridge to a come-from-behind 2-1 Big West Conference men's soccer victory Wednesday night at Cal State Fullerton.
The win improved the Matadors' record to 4-3-4 overall and 2-0-2 in the Big West and kept them unbeaten (3-0-3) in their last six matches. Fullerton lost its third consecutive Big West match at home by one goal to fall to 4-6-1 and 0-3-0.
Canel, who assisted on the game-tying goal in the 69th minute, sent his free kick over the head of Titans' goalkeeper Kevin Puder. The Titans had an excellent chance to tie with about 20 seconds left when the Matadors turned the ball over deep in their half but Skyler Thuresson's shot from about 20 yards out rolled just to the right of the right post.
Fullerton took a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute when Amir Shafii angled a free kick from just outside the box past CSUN goalkeeper Kevin Guppy. Dylan Riley's first goal of the season tied the match when he chested the ball past Puder after it came loose on Canel's corner kick from the left side.
The two halves were in stark contrast. Fullerton controlled the first 45 minutes, outshooting the visitors, 7-4, and Puder didn't have to make a save. But the Matadors were the aggressors the entire second half as they controlled the ball most of the time and outshot the hosts, 10-7.
Fullerton hosts UC Riverside on Saturday night while the Matadors are off until a crucial match on Oct. 11 at UC Irvine.