FULLERTON, Calif. – Jake Kirsch barely played as a freshman and sophomore. In his second year on the Cornell men's soccer team in 2011, Kirsch saw action in just four games and had 80 combined minutes to his name. He only played in three games in 2010.

But in his first career start on the first night of the 2012 season and on the other side of the country, Kirsch was the hero for Cornell in a dramatic 2-1 win at Cal State Fullerton.

Protecting a lead for most of the night, Cornell looked like it was going to hold on for a 1-0 win. But in the 83rd minute, the Titans equalized. All of a sudden, the game looked destined for overtime.

That's when Kirsch stepped up. In the 87th minute, the Big Red earned a dangerous free kick on the edge of the right side of the penalty box. Daniel Haber, who scored Cornell's first goal, lofted a cross to the opposite side of the box where Kirsch sat waiting. He headed the ball past Titans goalie Adam Zepeda, lifting his team's spirits just four minutes after Fullerton got on the board and about four minutes after midnight on the east coast.

Kirsch – a defender – had taken only four shots all of his sophomore season, and only two of those shots were on goal. He had never scored a point in college.

The win for Cornell (1-0) was its first season-opening victory since 2007 and only its second ever win against an opponent from California. Cornell's other win over Golden State opposition came back in October 1991. The Big Red's non-conference unbeaten streak now stretches all the way back to last year's season opener, a span of nine games.

Cornell got on the board early thanks to Haber, the team's leading scorer in 2011 (nine goal. Picking up right where he left off, Haber had a goal in the 32nd minute that seemed like it might be enough for the win.

With sophomore Atticus DeProspo streaking down the left flank, Haber took position in the center of the penalty box and waited for a cross. The pass from DeProspo came perfectly, getting past a lone Fullerton defender and landing at Haber's feet. With no one around him, Haber had a chance to settle, and he bested goaltender with a shot low and to the left.

The assist was the first point of DeProspo's Big Red career.

Fullerton came out swinging in the second half, earning multiple corner kicks and threatening to tie the game. Cornell had a few breakout opportunities with great shots by Tyler Regan and Haber, but they were all saved by Zepeda or went just wide.

With time ticking away, the Titans managed to get their goal and momentarily regain even footing. After a ball was played into the box by Mario Alvarez, Fullerton's Jaime Cano deflected the ball past Cornell goalie Rick Pflasterer to knot it at 1-1.

But that's when Kirsch made his presence felt, sending Cornell on to victory more than 2,500 miles from home.

The Big Red will have a chance to sweep its west-coast weekend when it takes on Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles on Sunday evening. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. eastern.

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