Late-Match Magic Lifts Titans Over Bluejays
FULLERTON, Calif. -- Cal State Fullerton senior Ann Marie Tangorra scored with just over a minute to play in regulation and the host Titans outshot Creighton by a 22-4 count on Sunday afternoon en route to a 1-0 shutout victory at Titan Stadium.
The win was the second for Fullerton (2-5 overall), snapping a two-match losing streak and keeping alive a string that has seen all seven matches this season for the Titans decided by a single goal. Both of Fullerton's victories in 2012 have been 1-0 shutouts.
The Bluejays fell to 2-5-1 overall with the loss.
"Today is another good example of how well we can play as a team," Head Coach Demian Brown said. "We still have areas to improve on, mainly in how we finish our attacks, but the encouraging thing is our consistency and how we play game-in and game out."
Sophomore Rebecca Wilson (nine overall, six on goal) and Tangorra (six overall, three on frame) combined for over half of the Titans' shots on the afternoon, but it was Tangorra's third goal of the year that proved decisive in the 89th minute. Senior Jennifer Smith made a run down the left side near the endline before lofting a ball from in close into the box. Wilson drew her defenders off the play with Tangorra waiting outside the six at the back post and the senior volleyed it home to the right side for the winner.
It was the second-straight match with a goal for Tangorra and the third consecutive contest with a point after posting an assist against No. 21 Oregon State on Aug. 30.
Fullerton's defense allowed just two Creighton shots in each half, tying a season low for an opponent (Oregon State finished with just four shots), without conceeding a corner kick.
Junior goalkeeper Lindsey Maricic was forced to make just one save in recording her first shutout of the season while Bluejays keeper Katie Jo Swanson was quite a bit busier, finishing with 11 saves for Creighton -- seven of those coming in the second half.
The Titans took the first four shots of the match and did not allow a shot by Creighton until 17 minutes in. Swanson denied Fullerton on its first three shots of the match and smothered another by Wilson from about eight yards out to keep the match scoreless in the 18th minute.
After the break, Smith had a chance snuffed out in the 50th minute as Tangorra broke in behind the defense, touched to Wilson, who touched to Smith, but her sliding shot was broken up by Swanson, who also affected another attempt by Wilson two minutes later, forcing her to shoot wide.
Cal State Fullerton remains home next weekend, hosting the four-team Under Armour Invitational at Titan Stadium featuring the Titans, Long Beach State, Army, and Texas Tech. The 49ers and Red Raiders open play on Friday (Sept. 14) at 5 p.m., followed by the Fullerton and the Black Knights.
Sunday's slate (Sept. 16) features Long Beach State against Army and the Titans against Texas Tech beginning at 11 a.m.
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