FULLERTON, Calif. -- Cal State Fullerton seniors Stacey Fox and Ann Marie Tangorra each tallied a pair of goals in their final home appearance of the season and the Titans spoiled visiting Cal Poly's unblemished record, handing the Mustangs their first defeat of the year, 4-0, on Sunday afternoon at Titan Stadium.
The win earned the Titans a split for the weekend, moving them to 8-8 overall and 5-2 in league play. At the end of the weekend, Fullerton holds the fourth and final spot for the Big West Conference Tournament, three points clear of Long Beach State, one point back of UC Irvine and Cal State Northridge in second, and two points back of Cal Poly.
The Mustangs, unbeaten since the start of conference play, suffered their first loss since a 2-1 defeat at Fresno State on Sept. 23, falling to 8-6-3 overall and 5-1-2 in league matches.
"I am extremely proud of the way the women bounced back after a disappointing performance on Friday to take on a very good Cal Poly program," Head Coach Demian Brown said. "To play the way we did today is very rewarding. With the emotions of 'Senior Day,' I feel our women took a very big step on our path to our ultimate goal."
Cal State Fullerton out shot Cal Poly, 24-9, on the afternoon, putting 15 of its 24 shots on frame against goalkeeper Alyssa Giannetti, who finished with 11 saves. Seven different Titans finished with multiple shots on the day paced by four apiece by Tangorra and Rebecca Wilson.
A back-and-forth first 13 minutes led to an offensive explosion for the Titans, who reeled off eight-straight shots (and the final 12 of the half overall) before Fox netted her first of the match (and sixth of the season) in the 35th minute. Junior Lauren Mellano swung a corner kick in from the right side just over the outstretched gloves of Giannetti, but onto the head of Fox, who headed it home at the left post for the 1-0 lead.
It stayed that way through halftime until Fox struck again with her seventh of the year just two minutes in, converting her second penalty kick attempt of the season after senior Brisa Gonzalez was pushed from behind trying to head in a rebound off a shot by Wilson that clanged off the crossbar.
Tangorra then got into the act with a pair of goals just 10 minutes apart late in the match to put the game away, netting her first of the day (and fifth of the year) in the 78th minute off a nifty set piece. Erica Mazeau's corner from the left side was headed on by Summer Chavez to Tangorra at the back post, who headed it home for the 3-0 lead. Her second of the day came in the 88th minute, taking a pass from Brianna Chapman right to the middle of the box and beating the keeper 1-v-1 for the final 4-0 tally.
Junior Lindsey Maricic made four saves in just under 85 minutes in net for the Titans before leaving with an injury with 5:20 to play. Junior Katie Pulliam came on and closed it out, denying Cal Poly on a shot cross by Brittany Gebo in the closing minute to preserve the clean sheet.
Cal State Fullerton closes out its 2012 campaign on the road, heading to Northern California to take on UC Davis on Friday (Oct. 26) at 2 p.m. and Pacific on Sunday (Oct. 28) at 1 p.m.
NOTES: The four goals were a season high and the most for the Titans since they scored the same number against UC Davis in the 2011 season finale on Oct. 30... with her two goals on Sunday, Tangorra became only the 18th player in school history to reach double digits in goals scored... Fox's two goals gave her 20 for her career -- good for sixth-place all-time -- and her 45 points moved her into ninth place on the school's career chart... Fox's seven goals on the year are the most for a Titan since Christina Murillo had eight goals in 2010... Erica Mazeau's seventh assist of the year moved her into a five-way tie for second on the school's single-season list (Barbie Gil holds the record with 13 in 1996)... Lauren Mellano and Summer Chavez each notched their first points of the year with their assists, while Brianna Chapman logged her second assist of the season.
