FULLERTON, Calif. - The Cal State Fullerton Titans women's soccer team defeated the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 2-1 at home on Thursday night at Titan Stadium.
The Titans improved to 7-4-4 for the season overall and 4-1-1 in conference play. The Titans remain tied for second place with 13 points in the conference along with Cal Poly who defeated UC Riverside on Thursday. Long Beach State remains on top of the conference with 14 points after a dominant win at UC San Diego. The Gauchos fall to 2-8-6 overall and 1-3-3 in conference play.
The Titans once again had to come back in the game but it was the senior leadership of the team captains Kaya Hawkinson and Samantha McKenna that propelled the Titans to victory.
The Gauchos went ahead in the 18th minute after a turnover by the Fullerton defense in UCSB's attacking third. They had a 3-vs-1 opportunity against the Titans defense and Lauren Helwig was able to sneak one past Mia Ranson.
The Titans were dominant on corner kicks for the game, having 15 to the Gauchos 1. They capitalized in the 32nd minute after the Gaucho keeper couldn't handle a ball sent in by Kaytlin Brinkman and it spilled right to Kaya Hawkinson who volleyed it straight into the net to tie the game at 1-1.
33' | GOAAAAAALLL Titans!!! @kayahawk with the equalizer! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/zJ5h0RFWlB
— Titans Women's Soccer (@FullertonWSOC) October 14, 2022
The Titans found an early goal in the second half in the 50th minute. Karla Rodriguez played a ball back to Meghan Schroh who sent in a perfect lob over the Gaucho defense to Samantha McKenna who one timed the shot past the Gaucho keeper to give the Titans the lead.
50 ' | @sam_mckenna6 ONE TOUCH BEAUTY!!! Titans take a 2-1 lead over the Gauchos!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Tly1LrJ8Tf
— Titans Women's Soccer (@FullertonWSOC) October 14, 2022
The Titans outshot the Gauchos 11-to-7 for the game. However neither keeper were forced to make many saves as Ranson made one save and Evann Smith made two saves for the Gauchos.
The Titans return to Titan Stadium on Sunday to close out a 3-game homestand against Cal Poly. The Titans and the Mustangs are tied with 13 points and last year, it was the Mustangs who eliminated the Titans in The Big West tournament semifinal.
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).
