NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---For a second straight match, Cal State Fullerton was able to control the pitch, outshooting Albany 18-14 and winning the corner kick battle 9-5, but this time the Titans got the winning result they were looking for, holding on for a 2-1 win over Albany Sunday afternoon at Matador Soccer Field in Northridge.

"I thought three of the four halves we played this weekend were excellent," said head coach Bob Ammann. "We just got a little complacent in the second half today.

"We easily could have been up 3-0 or 4-0 at halftime, so we need to work on putting away our chances, but glad we held on for the win."

Fullerton (1-1) wasted no time in taking control of the contest, as defender Zach Bryan was able to head a ball in the back of the net in the fourth minute to give the Titans the 1-0 advantage, after midfielderSpencer Johnson played in one of Fullerton's five first half corner kicks from the left side.

Just minutes later, Fullerton would strike again, as Ritchie Gonzalez put in his first strike of the season in the eighth minute, after Jordan Wolff set him up following a deflection in the box.

The Titans continued to keep the pressure on in the first half, outshooting Albany (0-2) 11-4, producing six shots on goal, and winning the corner kick contest 5-1.

Despite going in to halftime with a 2-0 advantage, the match was far from over as Albany was able to capitalize on a scrum in the box, as Dominic McGarr pushed the ball by a diving Bryan Escalante in the 61^st minute to cut the Titan lead to 2-1.

Albany had one more big opportunity to tie the game in the closing moments, but the last second cross was booted away as the final ticks ran off the clock.

The win snaps what was a brief two-game shutout streak going back to last season.

The Titans will get back after it this Friday, Sept. 6 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Loyola Marymount in Fullerton's home opener at Titan Stadium.

 

Ryan Rossi Memorial Tournament All-Tournament Team

Albany

#4 Dominic McGarr

Cal State Fullerton

#15 Fermin Villalba

#26 Zach Bryan

Memphis

#2 Mark Sherrod

#19 Austin Stone

#10 Shane Keely

Cal State Northridge

#7 Beto Velasquez

#9 Brian Behrad

#10 Chris Smith

#20 Trevor Morley– Defensive MVP

# 18 Sagi Lev-Ari – Offensive MVP