FULLERTON, Calif. - The Cal State Fullerton women's soccer team scored a season high four goals to defeat the University of California, Riverside 4-1 on Thursday night at Titan Stadium. The Titans improved their record to 6-4-4 and sit in a three-way tie for first place (10 points) in the Big West with a 3-1-1 record as they enter the second half of conference play.
Kaytlin Brinkman buried her third goal of the season in the fourth minute off a penalty kick rewarded to Emelia Owen who got fouled in the box.
4 ' | GOAAAAAAAALL. Owen gets fouled in the box and Brinkman buries the penalty!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Lt4XD0rEYC
— Titans Women's Soccer (@FullertonWSOC) October 7, 2022
Brinkman snuck behind the Highlanders defense in the sixth minute, bringing the ball down from Kaylin Raibon's pass and striking it into the bottom left half of the net. Brinkman's two goals counted for her third and fourth of the season. Raibon earned her third assist on the year on the play.
6' | GOAAAAAAAALL!! Brinkman beats the offside trap and the Titans take a 2-0 lead within the first 6 minutes!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/shmgFpqhiB
— Titans Women's Soccer (@FullertonWSOC) October 7, 2022
The Highlanders responded immediately and put pressure on the Titans, tightening the score 2-1 at the 7th minute mark.
However the Titans would get a third goal when Kaylin Raibon picked up another assist after a strong cross set up Kaya Hawkinson to head the ball into the net at the 26th minute mark. Hawkinson's second goal of the season earned the Titans insurance with a 3-1 lead over the Highlanders.
26 ' | GOAAAAAAAAAAALLL! Raibon beats her defender and sends a perfect cross to @kayahawk to head into the net! Titans lead 3-1#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/haqmGr9upJ
— Titans Women's Soccer (@FullertonWSOC) October 7, 2022
With two minutes left in the first half, Collette Ledden sent the ball into the net off her head as Meghan Schroch and Olivia Perez assisted off a corner kick.
43 | GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!! Collette Ledden with the header off the corner from @oliviaaperazaa initial header and the Titans lead 4-1 in the first half!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/oSTPfaPeUb
— Titans Women's Soccer (@FullertonWSOC) October 7, 2022
An aggressive Titans offense put them up 4-1 over the Highlanders heading into the second half. The Titans nearly doubled the shots of UCR, with 11. The Titans finished the match outshooting UCR 19-to-10 with 9 shots on goal to the Highlander's 4 shots on goal. Mia Ranson finished the game with three saves.
In the second half the Titans successfully fended off the Highlander offense. The Titans pushed for more goals but just missed on a couple opportunities in the second half.
Freshman Titan Goalkeeper Hannah Griffin made her season debut, taking over the cage for Mia Ranson with 10 minutes left.
The Titans will host UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 13.
WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+
Titans fans can now watch every home event exclusively on ESPN+. Cal State Fullerton has built a top-tier production studio to give the viewers an ESPN quality production for all games at Titan Stadium. Additionally, all schools in the Big West Conference are committed to producing ESPN quality streams which will allow fans to watch the Titans on ESPN+ for all road conference games.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans), and Instagram (FullertonTitans). In addition, the women's soccer team has established its own Twitter (@FullertonWSOC) and Instagram accounts (@FullertonWSOC).
