Cal State Fullerton sophomore Kandace Wilson notched her eighth goal of
the season and the Titans earned their first point in Big West play on
Sunday afternoon, earning a 1-1 tie with No. 19 Cal Poly at Mustang Stadium
in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Fullerton improved to 6-5-2 overall, 0-2-1 in Big West play. It was the
second consecutive double-overtime affair for the Titans, who tied No.
13 Santa Clara n Friday night. The Mustangs improved to 12-1-1 overall,
3-0-1 in league play.
After a scoreless first half, in the 68th minute, the Titans broke the
0-0 tie as a bad pass from a Mustang defender was mishandled and Wilson
was able to collect the ball and breakaway from the Mustang's defense.
Wilson took the ball 40 yards down field, where she scored from 17 yards
out, beating Mustang goalkeeper Greta Shirdon (Santa Barbara, CA) to the
lower left corner. This was just one of seven shots for the Titans.
The Mustangs were quick to answer in the 77th minute, as Heidi McQuitty
(Solvang, CA) was able to collect a loose ball 30 yards out in front of
the Titans' goal. McQuitty then passed the ball to an open Megan Gurney
(Saratoga, CA), who took a touch towards goal and unleashed a shot from
23 yards out that dipped and then bounced over Titans' goalkeeper Laura
Janke to hit the back of the net and tie the ball game at 1-1. This was
Gurney's second goal of the season, McQuitty's third assist.
In the 83rd minute, the Mustangs came close to taking the lead as Mustang
forward Kelsey Carroll (Mission Viejo, CA) flicked a ball onto teammate
Sharon Day (Costa Mesa, CA) who took the ball from 40 yards out, all the
way into the Titan's goal box, where she was able to get by two Titan
defenders and crossed the ball to a wide open Carroll at the penalty spot.
Carroll hit a shot that was deflected by a Titan defender out of bounds
to keep the game at 1-1.
As the game headed into overtime, the Mustangs had dominated the game,
outshooting the Titans 18-5. The story would not change as the Mustangs
came out firing to open up the first overtime.
Just three minutes into overtime at the 93rd minute, great passing from
the Mustangs midfield opened up defender Heidi Spink (Milpitas, CA) on
the right side, who then played a through ball to a streaking Day. Day
was able to beat a Titan defender and shoot the ball from 16 yards out,
having Titan's goalkeeper Janke to make a crucial diving save. Janke had
eleven saves on the day.
Shirdon, in goal for the Mustangs, had four saves on the day. She goes
to 5-0-1 overall, 1-0-1 in the Big West. The Mustangs outshot the Titans
23-7 in the game. This is only the second goal that the Mustangs' defense
has let in at home as well as their first game that has gone to overtime.
They are 6-0-1 at home this season.
The Titans return home on Friday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 19, hosting
Big West rivals Pacific (7 p.m.) and Cal State Northridge (1 p.m.), respectively.
