Andrew Sam scored with five minutes remaining to play Wednesday afternoon
to break a 1-1 tie and carry Cal State Fullerton to a 2-1 Big West Conference
victory at UC Riverside.The Ttans' win avenged a season-opening 2-1 loss
to the Highlanders in Titan Stadium.
Riverside (6-8-1, 3-3-1) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead through some
brilliance from junior midfielder Scott Barnett. In the ninth minute,
freshman defender Steven Kaufman sent a cross in from the left where Barnett
was
making a run. Seeing that the delivery would fall short, the junior altered
his jump so that he was moving away from the goal. He then flicked out
his
right foot, connecting with a back-heel from 15 yards that sent the ball
looping over Fullerton’s goalie, Sam Reynolds, and into the back
of the net.
The goal was Barnett’s seventh of the year, his third in two games,
and
third against the Titans this season.
Fullerton (4-8-2, 2-4-0) struck back at 19:49 as Ignacio
Cid finished off a chipped pass from Jose Barragan. Neither team scored
for
the remainder of the half as each side took four shots.
The second half started with both squads pushing forward for the go-ahead
goal. CSUF came close as Sam hit the post and then had his follow-up
blocked by sophomore goalie Charles Alamo). Minutes later, Alamo went
low to his right to stop another Titan shot.
UCR almost took the lead with 15 minutes remaining but Barnett’s
effort
hit the underside of the crossbar and did not cross the line. That would
be
the Highlanders’ last shot as Sam grabbed the game-winner for Fullerton
at
84:52 after UCR was reduced to 10 men.
Alamo made three saves for the Highlanders. Reynolds also stopped three
for
the Titans.
Fullerton plays again at Cal State Northridge on Saturday afternoon.
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