Oct. 17, 2009
Fullerton, Calif. - Nick Posthuma's goal in the 16th minute carried Cal State Fullerton to a 1-0 Big West Conference men's soccer victory Saturday evening over UC Davis.
The win lifted the Titans' record to 7-6-1 overall and 3-2 in the Big West. The Aggies fell to 5-10 and 2-4 with their second loss of the season to Fullerton.
Posthuma (sophomore, Pasadena, St. Francis HS) collected a long pass down the left side sent from near midfield by John Meza and outmaneuvered a defender. He dribbled in from an angle left on goalkeeper Ryan McCowan and punched the ball low to the right and inside the far post for the game's only score before a season-high crowd of 605.
CSF goalkeeper Trevor Whiddon logged his first shutout of the season even though the Titans played the final one-fourth of the match a man down after Johnathan Birt received a red card. Whiddon needed only two saves but both were outstanding and came in a flurry late in the first half.
The Aggies' Rene Cuellar came up with the ball after a cornerkick around the 18-yard line straight out. His shot was blocked by Whiddon and the rebound went to an unmarked Jason Santos, who fired at point blank range only to see Whiddon block a second attempt. The Aggies had only those two shots on goal out of a total of eight.
"Playing a team twice in a week is tough," said Head Coach Bob Ammann. "I felt we were up to the challenge and started the game positively. The goal was well deserved and we were unlucky not to have added to that total.
"I am very happy with the boys' work rate and effort tonight. This was the first time we had to protect a lead while being down a man and I thought we did very well. To hold them to no shots on goal is a big achievement."
Fullerton didn't have many other serious chances in a total of 10 shots but seemed to control the ball the majority of the match, even when down a man. UC Davis played without forward Paul Marcoux, who leads his team with 12 points on 5 goals and 2 assists. He was out of the state attending his sister's wedding.
Fullerton's next match is Wednesday afternoon at UC Riverside.