Oct. 7, 2009

Box Score

Fullerton, Calif. - Redshirt sophomore Oscar Aguero scored the first two goals of his collegiate career Wednesday night to lift Cal State Fullerton to a 2-1 overtime Big West Conference men's soccer victory.

Aguero's goal from about 20 yards angle right came with 33 seconds remaining in the first overtime period and improved the Titans' record to 5-5-1 and 1-1-0. Cal State Northridge fell to 6-4-1 and 1-1-0.

Shay Spitz fed the ball from midfield to his right and Aguero (Katella HS / Anaheim, CA) beat goalkeeper Michael Abalos to the far post.

Aguero's first goal tied the match at 1-1 in the 75th minute and came on a free kick from just outside the 18-yard line. His blast appeared to be redirected off the wall and went past Abalos. The kick was set up when CSUN's Dylan Riley received a red card for taking down Johnathan Birt from behind.

Northridge had taken a 1-0 lead in the 56th minute. Robert Pate sent a cross from the right side across the goal mouth and Cameron Sims headed it into the near post. It caromed out and hit a Titan defender and bounced back into the goal past goalkeeper Trevor Whiddon. It was Sims' team-high fourth goal of the season.

Northridge had an apparent goal waved off late in regulation by an offsides call. Northridge also missed a chance to win in overtime when a Titan defender misplayed a ball to Pate about 20 yards straight out from the goal. He successfully chipped the ball over Whiddon but was wide right by a narrow margin.

Whiddon did not have to make a save as Northridge manged only 7 shots, only two of them in the first half. Abalos made 5 saves including an acrobatic block of a Birt shot from close range with about 13 minutes to go in regulation.

Fullerton played its fourth successive overtime home game following a tie and two losses. It was the Titans' first overtime win in Big West play since 2004, a 4-3 win over Northridge.

Fullerton travels to UC Davis on Saturday afternoon.