Box Score (PDF)
FULLERTON, Calif. – Christina Burkenroad's game-winning goal in the 85th minute propelled the Cal State Fullerton women's soccer team to a 1-0 shutout victory over Liberty in the Titans' season opener.
The Titans, hosting the Fullerton Tournament Presented by Embassy Suites Brea-N. Orange County, outshot the Flames 14-6, but the back of the net eluded the back-to-back defending Big West champs until less than six minutes remained in regulation.
Senior Rebecca Wilson started the play by finding sophomore Sarah Fajnor open on the right wing. The Fullerton native evaded a defender at the endline and delivered a cross to the back post that found Burkenroad. The senior hammered her sixth career game winner across the face of the goal beating Liberty goalkeeper Holly Van Noord at the low corner.
For the Titans, it was their first victory in a season opener since 2008, and Fullerton is now 7-14-2 in season openers and 8-13-2 in home openers.
Titan goalkeeper Jennifer Stuart made four saves in the seventh shutout of her career.
One of Fullerton's best chances of the night to score came in the 63rd minute as Connie Caliz turned a shot to the near post, but Van Noord produced a spectacular one-handed save.
That was quickly followed by action on the other end as Liberty's Jennifer Knoebel split the Titan defense at the top of the box, drawing Stuart off her line to make the junior keeper's biggest stop of the night.
In the first half, Liberty's first shot of the match from Knoebel in the 13th minute drew a save from Stuart, while the Titans' Jazzmin Mancilla ripped a shot to the low near post that Van Noord saved in the 36th minute.
The Titans outshot the Flames 7-3 as Van Noord had to make four stops in the first 45 minutes.
George Washington defeated UCR, 1-0, in overtime in the first match on Friday.
The Titans return to action on Sunday hosting George Washington at 2 p.m. in the final day of the Fullerton Tournament Presented by Embassy Suites Brea N. Orange County. UC Riverside and Liberty will play at 11 a.m.
Notes: Cal State Fullerton won its first season opener since 2008…Fullerton is now 7-14-2 in season openers and 8-13-2 in home openers…Christina Burkenroad scored her 14th career goal and her sixth as a game winner…Jennifer Stuart recorded her seventh career shutout in goal...Brooke Ligtenberg, Nano Oronoz, Amanda Larsson and Lindsay Stasinis made their official Titan debuts.