Cal State Fullerton freshman Allison
Bowman (Diamond Bar, Calif.) scored twice, including the game-winner
in the 71st minute, helping lead the Titans to a, 3-2, Big West Conference
season-opening victory over Cal State Northridge on Friday afternoon.
Fullerton improves to 7-1-1 overall and 1-0-0 in league action. Northridge
falls to 1-9-0 overall and 0-1-0 in conference play.
After both teams battled to a scoreless tie in the first half, Bowman
and the Titans got on the board first in the 51st minute, taking a ball
from junior Nadia Hernandez (Pomona,
Calif.) and beating goalkeeper Jen Jasper for the 1-0 lead.
The Titans made it 2-0 just 10 minutes later, as freshman Ashley
O'Brien (Huntington Beach, Calif.) scored on a nicely-placed through
ball from Kandace WIlson (Walnut,
Calif.) and Paige Morgan (Huntington
Beach, Calif.).
Cal State Northridge wouldn't stay down, however, striking back in the
62nd minute when Melissa Cleal converted a penalty kick, cutting the lead
to 2-1. The Matadors tied the match three minutes later as former Cal
State Fullerton player Leah Sims headed home a free kick from Cleal in
the box, knotting the score at 2-2.
Bowman then put the Titans ahead for good, slamming home a rebound off
her own penalty kick for the 3-2 victory.
It was the first goals of the season for Bowman as she became the 11th
different player to score for the Titans this season.
Fullerton held a 21-16 advantage in shots (13-7 in shots on goal) and
had six corner kicks to the Matadors' two. The Titans were flagged for
seven offsides on the afternoon.
Cal State Fullerton next travels to northern California to take on Pacific
on Sunday (Oct. 6) at Noon in a battle of the top two teams in the Big
West Conference.
