Nov. 1, 2006
Riverside, Calif. - Sean Keefe's first collegiate goal broke a 2-2 tie and Michael Farfan added a late penalty kick Wednesday afternoon to lift Cal State Fullerton to a 4-2 Big West Conference men's soccer victory at UC Riverside.
Keefe headed in a cross off a free kick from the right flank by Riverside product Jacob Shumway with about 12 minutes to play. Farfan booted in his second penalty kick of the year after Eugene Brooks was tripped up from behind in the penalty box with 4 minutes remaining.
The victory snapped the Titans' 5-match losing streak and improved their record to 6-11-1, 2-7 in the Big West Conference. Both Big West wins have come by the same score over UC Riverside, which fell to 5-11-2 and 2-5-2. In each game the Titans blew a 2-0 lead only to regain the advantage.
Brooks scored twice in the first half to give the Titans another early lead and put himself atop the Big West goal-scoring list. His tenth goal of the year came in the 22nd minute when he found a loose ball in front of the net. His eleventh goal was more spectacular, a volleyed line drive from about 25 yards past goalkeeper Charles Alamo in the 34th minute.
But UCR got on the board less than two minutes later when Brandon Plummer punched in a ball that had rebounded off Titans' keeper Brent Douglas.
Fullerton's 2-1 lead lasted 12 minutes into the second half when Plummer found a loose ball at the top of the box and beat Douglas.
Brooks has moved into the Titans' Top Ten single-season goal scoring list, tied for ninth with Mike Fox (1981) and Hector Orellana (2002).
The Titans wrap up the season Saturday night at home vs. Cal Poly SLO. Seniors Taylor Sheldrick, Brooks, Marco Rodriguez and Yaron Shlomi will be honored before their final Titan appearances.