Titans Host Rival Long Beach in Big West Action Thursday

Titans Host Rival Long Beach in Big West Action Thursday

Weekly Release (PDF)

Long Beach State at Cal State Fullerton
Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014 | 5:30 PM
Titan Stadium • Fullerton, Calif.

Live Video: www.FullertonTitans.com
Live Audio: www.FullertonTitans.com
Live Stats: www.FullertonTitans.com

THIS WEEK
Cal State Fullerton enters the week second in the Big West Conference standings after totaling four points last week with a 2-1 victory at Hawai'i on Thursday and a 1-1 tie at UC Davis on Sunday.

PROMOTIONS & TICKETS
Cal State Fullerton returns to Titan Stadium on Thursday to host Long Beach State at 5:30 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the men's team, which hosts UC Santa Barbara at 8 p.m.
Cal State Fullerton students receive free admission to Titan home games with their Titan I.D. card.
Additional ticket information can be found by clicking HERE.

THE STUDENT CHALLENGE
Head coach Demian Brown has issued a challenge for Thursday's match against rival Long Beach State. If 500 or more CSF students fill in Titan Stadium for both the women's game and the men's match vs. UC Santa Barbara later that night, Brown has pledged to wear the "Tuffy" costume at a men's basketball game for the 2014-15 season. Promos:
• Thunderstick giveaway
• The first 400 CSF students in attendance will receive food from Jersey Mike's Fullerton/Brea, served in between the women's and men's games.
• An eating contest between five CSF students between games. The first to finish a Giant #13 will win prizes from Jersey Mike's & Titan Athletics.

 

QUICK HITS
• Cal State Fullerton's 4-1 victory over Idaho State on Sept. 18 marked the 200th win for the program, which started in 1993.
•  Cal State Fullerton has scored 15 goals this season by nine different players as Rebecca Wilson leads the team with seven goals. She has scored six goals in Fullerton's last five matches.
• Eight of Fullerton's first 13 matches of the year have entered overtime, and the Titans are 0-5-3 in those games. Fullerton is 13-15-24 in extra time during Head Coach Demian Brown's eight seasons.
• Fullerton has lost seven games this season by one goal – five in overtime. The Titans have been shut out on four occasions in 2014.
• Of Fullerton's 15 goals, 11 have been scored in the second half, and only twice have the Titans scored the first goal of the match.

OPPONENTS & HISTORY
Long Beach State | 5:30 p.m. | Thursday, Oct. 9 | Titan Stadium
Long Beach State enters the week tied for third in the Big West standings after rebounding from a 3-0 loss to Cal Poly last Friday with a 2-0 shutout of UC Santa Barbara last Sunday. Ashley Gonzales leads the 49ers with six goals and two assists. The Titans and 49ers have played four same opponents this season: Georgia, Denver, San Diego and BYU. LBSU held a 2-1-1 record in those games and Fullerton posted a 0-3-1 record in those games.
Head-to-Head: CSF leads the all-time series against LBSU with a record of 8-7-1. The Titans hold a 2-5-0 record against the 49ers at Titan Stadium, while managing a 6-2-1 record on the road. In Fullerton's last match against LBSU at Titan Stadium, CSF recorded a 2-1 win on Sept. 30, 2012.
Last Time Out: After back-to-back goals in the first half, Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State played 75 minutes of scoreless soccer en route to a 1-1 draw on Oct. 31, 2013 at George Allen Field in Long Beach, Calif. Janali West's goal in the 33rd minute gave the Titans a 1-0 advantage, but Fullerton's lead lasted less than three minutes when Long Beach State's Melanie Fox was able to get to the rebound off her own header, and record the game-tying goal in the 35th minute.

RECAP & NOTES FROM LAST WEEK
• The Titans hold a record of 10-8-1 in conference season openers including a 4-5 mark on the road
• Last Thursday, Fullerton came from behind for the first time this season to record a win in a 2-1 victory at Hawai'i. After surrendering a goal to the Rainbow Wahine in the 13th minute, Rebecca Wilson headed in the equalizer in the 31st minute before scoring the game winner in the 69th minute.
• Fullerton is an undefeated 3-0 this season when scoring at least two goals in a game.
• In Sunday's 1-1 tie at UC Davis, Fullerton trailed 1-0 at the half. Rebecca Wilson scored the game-tying goal in the 86th minute, and for the first time this season, the Titans did not lose when trailing at halftime.

BE A FOLLOWER
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titans athletics by following us on Facebook (CSUF.Athletics) and Twitter (@FullertonTitans). In addition, the women's soccer team has established its own Facebook and Twitter presence. Search for "Cal State Fullerton Women's Soccer" on Facebook or follow them on Twitter at @CSUF_WSoccer.

Patterson Selected as Candidate for Senior CLASS Award
Cal State Fullerton senior midfielder Chelsey Patterson has been selected as one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award, it was announced on Sept. 2.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The candidate class will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. 

Wilson Named Big West Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Junior forward Rebecca Wilson was named the Big West Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three goals and leading Cal State Fullerton to a 1-0-1 record in the first weekend of Big West play.
The Placentia, Calif., native spearheaded the Titans' 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Hawai'i on Thursday, scoring both goals.  She headed in the game-tying corner off Colleen Ortega's service in the 31st minute, before responding again with another header in the 69th minute courtesy of Brianna Chapman's free kick.
On Sunday at UC Davis in a 1-1 draw, Wilson leveled the scoreline in the 86th minute after converting a penalty kick goal. Wilson leads the Titans with seven goals, including six in the last five contests.
This is Wilson's first Big West Player of the Week honor in her career, and the first for the Titans in 2014.

OLD HABITS DIE HARD
In 2013, it was almost routine for the Titans to play an overtime period, entering extra time play on 10 occasions  -- one shy of their NCAA record-tying 11 overtime matches in 2011.
The trend is continuing in 2014 as eight of Fullerton's first 13 matches of the year have entered overtime.
The Titans were unbeaten in overtime (3-0-7) in 2013, but this season, the Titans have already suffered five losses in extra time, including surrendering the golden goal with less than two minutes remaining on three occasions. Fullerton is 13-15-24  in extra time during Head Coach Demian Brown's eight seasons. 

EXTRA TIME
Cal State Fullerton has played 1,295.37 minutes on the field this season. The team's eight overtime matches have added enough 105-plus minutes for the Titans this season.

DISSECTING SCORING
In regulation, Cal State Fullerton has outscored opponents, 15-10, however, in overtime, the Titans have been shut out, 5-0.

SCORELINE
Eleven of Fullerton's 13 games this season have been decided by one goal or less.

ON FIRE
Redshirt junior Rebecca Wilson leads Cal State Fullerton with seven goals as the Placentia, Calif., has scored six goals in the Titans' last five games.
Wilson's seven goals mark the most for the Titans since current CSF assistant coach Stacey Fox scored seven in 2012.
Wilson's seven goals enter the week ranking second in the Big West Conference, and her three goals in league games only leads the Big West.

STUART RETURNS
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Jennifer Stuart has started Fullerton's last nine matches, totaling 30 saves and managing a 0.82 goals against average. The native of Cave Creek, Ariz., has posted two shutouts. Her 0.82 goals against average ranks second in the Big West and her .789 save percentage rates second as well.

ANOTHER STAT CARRIES OVER FROM 2013
Fullerton made it a habit of scoring late last season, netting nine of its 18 goals -- three of those going for "golden goal" game-winners -- in the 70th minute or later.
This season, 11 of Fullerton's 15 goals have been scored in the second half, and only twice have the Titans scored the go-ahead goal.
Ten of CSF's 15 goals this season have come after the 60th minute.

"O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!"
Cal State Fullerton senior midfielder Chelsey Patterson will serve as team captain for the third straight season along with junior defender Morgan Batcheller and junior forward Rebecca Wilson.

RECORD BREAKERS
Fullerton fans set a new record as 1,365 onlookers were in attendance – the second largest crowd to attend a Cal State Fullerton women's soccer match - and the largest for a home opener on Aug. 22, at Titan Stadium.

ROAD MAP
The 2013 Big West Tournament Champions will return to the pitch in 2014 with a challenging schedule as four of their opponents completed last year in the top-75 of RPI, while two competed in the NCAA Tournament.

A NEW LOOK
Entering the 2014 season, CSF has a strong combination of newcomers and returners on its roster. The Titans return 13 letterwinners from last year's championship squad while welcoming 11 newcomers and four returning redshirts. Of Fullerton's 13 returners, five were starters last season. 

BY THE NUMBERS
Cal State Fullerton totaled 51 points last season (18 goals/15 assists) and will need to replace 57 percent of that production as top scorers Erica Mazeau (4 goals, 6 assists), Nikki McCants (3 goals) and Janali West (2 goals, 2 assists) have graduated.

DE-FENSE (CLAP, CLAP)
Fullerton's 2013 defense emerged as one of the best in the league, ranking atop the Big West statistical rankings in fewest goals allowed (17), goals against average (0.71), and saves (113), while standing tied for third in shutouts (7). 

TV TIME
For the third consecutive season, it was announced that the championship match of this year's Big West Conference women's soccer tournament hosted by Cal Poly would be televised live on FOX Sports PrimeTicket at 1 p.m. on Nov. 9. 

TITANS CLAIM BACK-TO-BACK TITLES
Defending Big West Tournament champion Cal State Fullerton is out to claim three consecutive crowns in 2014 after the Titans clinched their fourth Big West tournament title in school history and earned the league's automatic NCAA postseason berth in 2013. In 2012, Fullerton won its sixth Big West regular season championship in school history, trailing only Cal Poly (7). It was Fullerton's fourth solo crown after sharing the top spot in 2004 and 2007, the program's fifth in the last 12 seasons, and the second under Head Coach Demian Brown.

STAFF CHANGE
Fullerton's coaching staff remains largely intact for 2014 with one exception as Michael Thomas joins the staff following the departure of Diego Bocanegra, who accepted a position at Notre Dame. Prior to joining the Titan staff, Thomas served as head coach at the University of Buffalo for six years (2008-13). During his tenure with the Bulls, he tutored 12 Mid-American all-conference, all-tournament and all-academic honorees, fielding his most successful squad in 2011.

A TRADITION UNLIKE ANY OTHER
Sophomore Nicole Ulrich and junior Alyssa Cabral will be carrying on a tradition of sorts in 2014 as their No. 2 and No. 5 jerseys are the only two numbers in the history of the Fullerton program to be worn every season since the program began in 1993.

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Cal State Fullerton, the defending Big West Tournament Champion, was picked to finish fourth in Big West Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll, while Cal Poly was selected to repeat as the regular season champion with six first-place votes. 
UC Irvine received two first-place votes with 64 points while Long Beach State collected 59 points for third place. Cal State Fullerton received a first-place vote of its own and finished out the top four teams with 58 points. 
Hawai'i (37 points), UC Santa Barbara (30), CSUN (27), UC Davis (27) and UC Riverside (26) rounded out the preseason poll.
Senior midfielder and captain Chelsey Patterson was named to the Big West Preseason All-Conference Team after earning second team all-league honors in 2013.

 

ATHLETICS TICKETS

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