SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton dropped its second Big West Conference match of the season, falling at UC Santa Barbara, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Harder Stadium.
The Titans (6-9, 3-2) remained winless on the road this season as the team was held scoreless for 87 minutes on Sunday before Sarah Fajnor notched her fourth goal of the season on a penalty kick in the 88th minute. But the Titans ran out of time to complete the comeback as the Gauchos (11-2-2, 2-1-1) held on for the victory.
"I thought our women battled hard against a very well-coached Santa Barbara team," said Titans head coach Demian Brown. "Now it's time to turn our attention to preparing for Hawai'i."
Fullerton recorded seven shots on the day, four of them on target from Johana Rosas, Alba Barrios, Brooke Ligtenberg and Fajnor. Goalkeeper Jennifer Stuart made three saves on the day for the Titans.
The Titans fell behind in the 33rd minute after Kate Shoemaker pounced on a loose ball and put it in the back of the net to put the Gauchos up 1-0. UCSB added to its lead in the 59th minute as Dakota Griggs put home a cross from Sydney Magnin to put the Titans in a two-goal deficit.
After mustering just one shot attempt in the first half, the Titans picked up the pace in the second half and applied pressure late in the half until they drew a foul in the box in the 88th minute. Fajnor took the ensuing penalty kick and put it home to cut the deficit in half. But the Titans would run out of time to try and tie the match as they did not get another shot attempt in the final two minutes of the game.
Fullerton will now travel to Hawai'I on Oct. 23 for its next match before wrapping up the 2016 regular season the following week.
Notes: Fajnor's goal was her fourth of the season, which now leads the team… The Titans are now 14-11-1 all-time against UCSB and 6-4-1 at Santa Barbara… Senior Ali White drew her first start of the season against UCSB… Sunday's loss was Fullerton's seventh road loss of the season, the first time in program history the team has lost seven road matches in a season. The Titans have lost six road games in a single year on four occasions.