Cal State Fullerton sophomore Allison Bowman had a goal and an assist
while Santa Clara’s Leslie Osborne had the game-tying score in the
87th minute of the match as the Titans and No. 13 Broncos played to a
2-2 tie in front of a season-high 578 fans in a non-conference women’s
soccer match on Friday night at Titan Stadium.
Cal State Fullerton moved to 6-5-1 overall this season, playing in its
first overtime match of the season. The Titans, in the process, also remained
unbeaten at home, improving to 4-0-1 overall this year. Santa Clara moved
to 6-3-4 overall, 0-0-4 in overtime in 2003.
The two goals surrendered by the Broncos snapped a three-match shutout
streak dating back to a 3-0 loss to Southern California on Sept. 26. The
Titans, meanwhile, scored for the first time in almost two weeks dating
back to a 5-0 victory over Oregon on Sept. 28.
The two teams played to a scoreless first half despite Santa Clara holding
an 8-3 advantage in shots. The Broncos had the majority of scoring chances
in the opening period of play as Titan senior Laura Janke saved a pair
of shots from Bree Horvath in the second minute and Lauren Zealear with
just 21 seconds remaining on the clock. Zealear also had another shot
from about 15 yards out clang off the crossbar in the 20th minute.
Cal State Fullerton’s best chance in the opening period came in
the 13th minute when sophomore Erin Shelton collected the ball while fighting
off a defender in the box, just catching the edge of the ball to send
it dribbling to the far left post. However, Santa Clara keeper Alyssa
Sobolik, initially caught moving the wrong way, just got her fingertips
on it, deflecting the chance wide for a corner kick.
Santa Clara finally broke the scoring drought in the 55th minute when
a pass from Leslie Osborne defelected off a Titan defender and collected
by Marian Dalmy, who fired to an open right corner for the 1-0 lead.
The equalizer for the Titans came in the 67th minute when sophomore Kandace
Wilson was taken down in the box by two defenders going for a loose ball
in the box. Fullerton was awarded a penalty kick and Bowman converted
for her second tally of the season at the 66:16 mark, knotting the score
at 1-1. Sophomore Erin Shelton then put Cal State Fullerton ahead, one-timing
a cross from Bowman to the left post from 17 yards out for the 2-1 advantage.
Osborne drew the Broncos even once again, converting on a penalty kick
in the 87th minute when a Santa Clara player was taken down at the top
of the box in a scrum for the ball. Osborne’s shot beat the Titan
keeper to the upper left side, knotting the score at 2-2. The two teams
played the final three minutes of the match even, forcing overtime.
In the extra periods, each team took three shots with the Titans’
Janke making the only save in the second overtime.
Santa Clara held a 19-10 advantage in shots and a slim 9-8 advantage in
corner kicks for the match. Despite a pair of penalty kicks, only one
card was issued and the two teams combined for 30 fouls – Cal State
Fullerton holding the lead in that category by a 19-11 margin.
Fullerton returns to action on Sunday (Oct. 12) on the road in San Luis
Obispo to take on the No. 19 Cal Poly Mustangs at Mustang Stadium at 1
p.m. The Titans return home on Oct. 17 and 19, hosting Big West rivals
Pacific (7 p.m.) and Cal State Northridge (1 p.m.), respectively.
