FULLERTON, Calif. -- UC Santa Barbara scored three times in a 15-minute span during the first half Friday night, including Erin Ortega's eventual game-winner in the 32nd minute, lifting the visiting Gauchos to a 4-2 victory over Cal State Fullerton at Titan Stadium.
The loss snapped the Titans' four-match winning streak, dropping them to 7-8 overall and 4-2 in Big West Conference play. It was the most goals allowed by Fullerton this season and the most since a 5-2 loss to Long Beach State on Oct. 17, 2010.
UCSB, which had won just once in its last eight contests and was outshot by an 18-9 count for the match, improved to 5-10-2 overall and 2-4-1 in conference play with the victory.
The Titans had the early chances, the best coming on a long run by Rebecca Wilson off a give-and-go with Christina Burkenroad that was saved by goalkeeper Makenna Henry as Wilson flipped head over heels after the collison in the fifth minute.
However, the Gauchos made the most of their only three shots of the first half, scoring on each attempt to carry a 3-1 lead into the locker room at the break. Indiana Mead (her second) and Angelisa Cortez (her third) scored a minute apart and, after Burkenroad got the Titans back to within a goal with her fifth of the year in the 25th minute, Ortega netted the eventual game-winner just before the half (her second of the season) to five UCSB a cushion.
Mayra Almazan gave the Gauchos a three-goal lead in the 70th minute with her first of the year and Gonzalez made it a three-point night with her first of the season off passes by Wilson and Burkenroad at the 73-minute mark for the final score of the night.
Aside from their 18-9 shot advantage, led by a match-high six shots from Wilson (five of those on frame), the Titans also held a 7-1 lead in corner kicks, but were turned away by Henry and her nine saves. Junior goalkeeper Lindsey Maricic, who entered the night with a shutout streak of 358:36, made two saves in the loss.
Cal State Fullerton concludes the home portion of its 2012 schedule on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 21) at 1 p.m. as the Titans host league-leading Cal Poly at Titan Stadium. Fullerton's senior class will be honored in "Senior Day" ceremonies prior to kick off.
