Dec. 12, 2005

FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton senior defender Marlene Sandoval has been named to the NSCAA/adidas All-America Second Team, becoming the first Titan to achieve such an honor and the second to be named to any type of All-America squad.

Sandoval, who was also named the Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was selected to the All-Big West First Team for the second straight season earlier this year, joins goalkeeper Karen Bardsley as Titan All-Americans. Bardsley was named a Soccer Buzz Second Team Freshman All-American in 2002.

The Titans finished 19-4 overall and won both the Big West Conference regular season and tournament titles to earn their second-ever berth into the NCAA Tournament. Once there, Fullerton finished as one of the final 16 teams left standing after defeating UNLV and Southern California at home in the first two rounds, and dropping a narrow, 2-1, decision to No. 7 Virginia on the road in the third round.

Sandoval helped guide one of the most dominating defenses in the history of the Titans' women's soccer program in 2005. Fullerton set school records for fewest goals allowed (15), fewest shots allowed (161), and most shutouts in a single season (12), while also tying the record for consecutive shutouts in a single season with four from Sept. 16-29, outscoring the opposition 11-0 in that span.

In other news, Cal State Fullerton finished the 2005 season ranked in the top 12 in a pair of national polls, standing at a school-record No. 11 in the nation according to Soccer Buzz and No. 12 according to the NSCAA. Both organizations have the Titans ranked at No. 5 in the West Region.