Sept. 23, 2011

Box Score

FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton sophomore Ritchie Gonzalez scored twice and senior Kevin Venegas finished with a goal and an assist on the night, helping lift the host Titans to a 4-2 victory over visiting Denver in front of 618 fans on Friday night at Titan Stadium.

Playing in only their second home contest of the season, Fullerton improved to 6-1-1 overall on the year with the victory, posting its second-highest goal total of the year behind only a 5-1 win over UNLV on Sept. 3. Denver lost its second-straight contest, falling to 1-4-2 overall with the loss.

It took only 23 seconds to get the home fans on their feet as Oscar Aguero netted perhaps one of the fastest goals in the history of the program, taking a pass from Nick Posthuma on the left side and bending it around Pioneers' keeper Mate Aguirre into the right side netting for the 1-0 advantage.

The score remained that way until the 36th minute when Gonzalez came through with his first of the night, settling the ball at the top of the box, turning his defender to the left and firing back to the right side for a 2-0 advantage that lasted until the break.

Denver came out of the locker room inspired and cut the deficit in half with just under five minutes gone in the second period. Jarod Stigall's cross from the right side found the head of Drew Beckie whose header clanged off the left post and in for his second of the year to make it 2-1.

The Pioneers, who took nine of their 12 shots in the second half, continued to keep up the pressure as Joe Eubanks and Cole Chapleski each had attempts denied by Fullerton keeper Trevor Whiddon before the Titans' offense caught lightning in the bottle, scoring twice in 54 seconds to break the match open. Venegas scored his fifth of the season at 69:08 off a touch by Jameson Campbell, rocketing a ball to the left side to make it 3-1. Gonzalez then followed with his second of the night at the 70:02 mark as Venegas left a ball at the top of the box for him and his shot to the left side beat Aguirre for the 4-1 advantage.

Beckie would net his second of the night for Denver, and his third of the year, in the 72nd minute off a long free kick by teammate Josh Wren near midfield, heading it home to the right post to cap the scoring.

Fullerton outshot Denver, 18-12, getting six shots from Gonzalez and five more from Aguero to lead all players. Christian Volesky finished with three shots to lead the Pioneers while three others finished with two shots apiece.

Cal State Fullerton returns to the field on Wednesday (Sept. 28) at 7 p.m. as the Titans host Cal State Bakersfield at Titan Stadium.