Fresno State, which finished 1-6-1 away from Bulldog Stadium last year, equaled its 2004 road win total with a 2-1 non-conference victory at Cal State Northridge on Sunday afternoon.
Aug. 28, 2005
Box Score
FRESNO, Calif.- For a team that will be playing five of its next seven games on the road, Sunday afternoon's result should serve as a nice boost of confidence.
Fresno State, which finished 1-6-1 away from Bulldog Stadium last year, equaled its 2004 road win total with a 2-1 non-conference victory at Cal State Northridge on Sunday afternoon.
Two days after suffering a hard-fought 2-1 loss to UC Santa Barbara in its season opener, Fresno State (1-1) returned the favor against another Big West opponent in Cal State Northridge (1-1). Senior Kortney Lewis scored the game-winner in the 79th minute, giving the Bulldogs their first win of the year.
"Cal State Northridge played very direct in the first half, playing a lot of balls over the top," said head coach Steve Springthorpe. "We were able to hang around in the second half, misfired on a few good opportunities before Kortney's goal. I'm proud of the way we kept battling despite the conditions (100-degree game-time temperature) and this was a great effort from the whole team."
The Matadors held a 16-12 edge in shot attempts, 11 of which came in the second half. Only three of the Bulldog's 12 shots were on goal.
Junior Cortney Sobrero, closely-marked in Friday's opener against UCSB, gave Fresno State a 1-0 lead at the 13:26 mark with her second goal of the year following an assist from Lewis after a give-and-go. Sobrero, Fresno State's leading scorer from 2004, led all players with five shot attempts.
Fresno State carried a 1-0 lead into the half, backed by a scoreless effort in goal from Angie Larsen (two saves in first collegiate start).
Cal State Northridge evened the match at 1-1 in the 54th minute, as Leila Pate broke free unguarded in the goalie box. The teams would exchange scoring opportunities until the 78:40 mark when junior Antonea Lugo found Lewis alone in the box and she followed with a 14-foot strike for a 2-1 lead. Lewis recorded three shots while Lugo tallied two.
Junior Jeannette Paine relieved Larsen at the start of the second half, making four saves with a nice performance in goal.
Cal State Northridge committed 11 fouls compared to Fresno State's seven.
Fresno State plays two more road matches next weekend. The Bulldogs face San Francisco on Friday, Sept. 2 and Sacramento State on Sunday, Sept. 4.
