Sunday, November 6
Fullerton, CA
UC Riverside
1
at
4
Cal State Fullerton
Photo by: Phil Ellsworth
#17 Titans Defeat Highlanders in Big West Championship Game, 4-1
11/6/2005 4:52:00 PM | Women's Soccer
No. 17 Cal State Fullerton 4, UC Riverside 1 - Box Score
Fullerton, CA—Top seed and 17th-ranked Cal State Fullerton scored twice in each half to defeat second-seeded UC Riverside, 4-1, in the Big West Women's Soccer Tournament Championship game played at Titan Stadium in Fullerton Sunday. The Titans avenged an earlier 1-0 loss to the Highlanders to gain the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.
The physical toll of Friday's double-overtime game against Long Beach State seemed to wear on the Highlanders (11-4-5), who struggled to keep up with the speedy Titans. Cal State Fullerton scored twice in the first 15 minutes through tournament MVP Lauryn Welch. In the eighth minute, Welch capitalized on a blocked UCR clearance to run down a loose ball, slotting her shot under UCR junior goalkeeper Tawny Poggio to stake the Titans to a 1-0 lead. The goal was the first the Highlanders had conceded in 400 minutes of play, dating back to October 21 at UC Irvine.
It took Fullerton (17-3-0) all of seven minutes to make it 2-0. Welch again found herself in the right spot, heading home a cross from the left by Marlene Sandoval. The Titans controlled the play in the first half, outshooting UCR 9-3. The Highlanders had a chance to pull a goal back in the 38th minute when senior midfielder Renee Scachetti's 25-yard shot went just over the crossbar.
UCR regrouped at halftime and almost immediately made a game of it, scoring in the 47th minute. Junior forward Kelly Ferguson sent a pass down the left side to freshman forward Katie Sheldon, who had entered the game at halftime. Sheldon's first-time pass was dummied by sophomore forward Jenna Leonti, who left it for Scachetti. Scachetti's left-footed shot from 10 yards beat CSUF goalie Karen Bardsley to make it 2-1. The goal was Scachetti's school-record 13th of the year and gave her 31 points in 2005, becoming the first Highlander to break the 30-point barrier.
Just as soon as the Highlanders were back in the game, the Titans regained their two-goal cushion. As UCR pushed forward for an equalizer, CSUF gathered the ball and Kandace Wilson had her shot saved by Poggio. The ball rebounded out and the Titans regrouped. Desiree Flint collected it and sent a low cross into the area where Kellie Cox glanced her header past Poggio.
UCR had another golden opportunity to reduce the Titans' lead in the 65th minute when Sheldon beat the Titan defense at midfield and stormed down on goal. Four Titan defenders bore down on her and blocked her attempt inside the penalty area.
The Titans turned around and put the game out of reach at 65:34. Wilson collected a loose ball inside the penalty area and shot low from 10 yards to beat Poggio.
Undaunted by the three-goal deficit, the Highlanders had one more opportunity. Off a long throw-in by senior midfielder Dani Geiger, Scachetti looped a header over Bardsley but it was cleared off the goalline by the defense. The ball came to Sheldon but her header was saved by Bardsley.
CSUF finished the game with 19 shots to UCR's eight. Poggio made six saves for the Highlanders while Bardsley stopped two for the Titans.
The loss was the first for UCR since September 23, snapping a program-record-tying 11 game unbeaten streak. It was also the Highlanders' first defeat at the hands of a Big West foe since October 17, 2004, ending a string of 13 games without a loss against conference opponents. The four goals conceded were the most since UCR lost 6-3 to Portland State on September 22, 2003, and the most against a team from the Big West since a 4-0 loss to Long Beach State on October 21, 2001. In addition, the victory was the first for the Titans over the Highlanders since 2001 as UC Riverside had gone 3-0-1 against Cal State Fullerton in that span.
UC Riverside still has a shot at one of the 38 at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament. The field for the 64-team NCAA Tournament will be announced on Monday (Nov. 7) between 2 and 2:30 p.m. (PST) on ESPNEWS.
Fullerton, CA—Top seed and 17th-ranked Cal State Fullerton scored twice in each half to defeat second-seeded UC Riverside, 4-1, in the Big West Women's Soccer Tournament Championship game played at Titan Stadium in Fullerton Sunday. The Titans avenged an earlier 1-0 loss to the Highlanders to gain the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.
The physical toll of Friday's double-overtime game against Long Beach State seemed to wear on the Highlanders (11-4-5), who struggled to keep up with the speedy Titans. Cal State Fullerton scored twice in the first 15 minutes through tournament MVP Lauryn Welch. In the eighth minute, Welch capitalized on a blocked UCR clearance to run down a loose ball, slotting her shot under UCR junior goalkeeper Tawny Poggio to stake the Titans to a 1-0 lead. The goal was the first the Highlanders had conceded in 400 minutes of play, dating back to October 21 at UC Irvine.
It took Fullerton (17-3-0) all of seven minutes to make it 2-0. Welch again found herself in the right spot, heading home a cross from the left by Marlene Sandoval. The Titans controlled the play in the first half, outshooting UCR 9-3. The Highlanders had a chance to pull a goal back in the 38th minute when senior midfielder Renee Scachetti's 25-yard shot went just over the crossbar.
UCR regrouped at halftime and almost immediately made a game of it, scoring in the 47th minute. Junior forward Kelly Ferguson sent a pass down the left side to freshman forward Katie Sheldon, who had entered the game at halftime. Sheldon's first-time pass was dummied by sophomore forward Jenna Leonti, who left it for Scachetti. Scachetti's left-footed shot from 10 yards beat CSUF goalie Karen Bardsley to make it 2-1. The goal was Scachetti's school-record 13th of the year and gave her 31 points in 2005, becoming the first Highlander to break the 30-point barrier.
Just as soon as the Highlanders were back in the game, the Titans regained their two-goal cushion. As UCR pushed forward for an equalizer, CSUF gathered the ball and Kandace Wilson had her shot saved by Poggio. The ball rebounded out and the Titans regrouped. Desiree Flint collected it and sent a low cross into the area where Kellie Cox glanced her header past Poggio.
UCR had another golden opportunity to reduce the Titans' lead in the 65th minute when Sheldon beat the Titan defense at midfield and stormed down on goal. Four Titan defenders bore down on her and blocked her attempt inside the penalty area.
The Titans turned around and put the game out of reach at 65:34. Wilson collected a loose ball inside the penalty area and shot low from 10 yards to beat Poggio.
Undaunted by the three-goal deficit, the Highlanders had one more opportunity. Off a long throw-in by senior midfielder Dani Geiger, Scachetti looped a header over Bardsley but it was cleared off the goalline by the defense. The ball came to Sheldon but her header was saved by Bardsley.
CSUF finished the game with 19 shots to UCR's eight. Poggio made six saves for the Highlanders while Bardsley stopped two for the Titans.
The loss was the first for UCR since September 23, snapping a program-record-tying 11 game unbeaten streak. It was also the Highlanders' first defeat at the hands of a Big West foe since October 17, 2004, ending a string of 13 games without a loss against conference opponents. The four goals conceded were the most since UCR lost 6-3 to Portland State on September 22, 2003, and the most against a team from the Big West since a 4-0 loss to Long Beach State on October 21, 2001. In addition, the victory was the first for the Titans over the Highlanders since 2001 as UC Riverside had gone 3-0-1 against Cal State Fullerton in that span.
UC Riverside still has a shot at one of the 38 at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament. The field for the 64-team NCAA Tournament will be announced on Monday (Nov. 7) between 2 and 2:30 p.m. (PST) on ESPNEWS.
Day in the Life: Leilani Juan
Monday, May 04
UCR Student-Athletes cheer on our students.
Friday, May 01
UCR Athletics Director Introductory Full Press Conference
Tuesday, March 24
Athletics Director Greg Paules Introductory Presentation Recap
Tuesday, March 24
