Sept. 7, 2007
SEATTLE, WA - Elli Reed's first goal of the season in the 37th minute snapped a 1-1 tie and helped lift top-ranked Portland to a 2-1 victory over Cal State Fullerton in the first match of the Husky Nike Invitational on Friday evening at Husky Soccer Stadium in Seattle, Wash.
The Titans fell to 0-2-1 overall on the year while the Pilots, who moved up to the No. 1 spot in each of the major polls this week, remained unbeaten and untied at 3-0 with the victory.
An early goal stung the Titans again as Portland's Rachael Rapinoe scored her team-best fourth goal of the season in the third minute of the match off a pass from teammate Michelle Enyeart for the 1-0 advantage. Enyeart's pass went right across the goal mouth to a sliding Rapinoe, who snuck it past Fullerton goalkeeper Shayla Sabin for the score.
Three of the five goals surrendered by the Titans this season have come in the first five minutes of the match.
Fullerton wasted little time in getting the goal back as junior Jenae Gibbens drew her side even with her second goal of the season. Gibbens, who scored her first career goal as a Titan last weekend against Idaho State, volleyed home a cross from teammate Nicole Scheid from 15 yards out to knot the match at 1-1.
The score remained that way until Reed's strike in the 37th minute as she blasted home the game-winning from the top of the box for the unassisted tally to make it 2-1.
Portland then shut the game down from there, allowing Fullerton just four shots over the final 53 minutes - just one of those coming in the second half. The Pilots outshot the Titans, 20-10, for the match, but Sabin gave Fullerton a chance in the second half, making six saves on nine shots in the period before leaving the match with a red card with just six seconds remaining in regulation.
The Titans close out tournament play on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 9) at 1:30 p.m. as they take on host Washington. Live stats will be available via the Huskies' website at www.gohuskies.com.