Titans Tackle Champions

Aug. 30, 2011

Northridge, Calif. - AT A GLANCE: The Titans play the first of two early-season tournaments this week at Cal State Northridge where they will face defending national champion Akron and UNLV.

CSF faces Akron at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday followed by UNLV and CSUN. On Saturday, it's CSF vs. UNLV at 4:30 p.m. followed by CSUN vs. Akron. Fullerton and CSUN will be the designated home teams for all four matches.

GAMETRACKER: The Fullerton games can be followed on GameTracker -- vs. Akron at: http://www.cstv.com/gametracker/launch/?event=1024275&school=fo&sport=msoccer&','GameTrackerv3','toolbar=no,resizeable=no,scrollbars=no,width=976,height=700');%20void(0);

and vs. UNLV at: http://www.cstv.com/gametracker/launch/?event=1003038&school=fo&sport=msoccer&','GameTrackerv3','toolbar=no,resizeable=no,scrollbars=no,width=976,height=700');%20void(0);

AUDIO STREAMING: Mike Martinez will do the play-by-play of the CSF-Akron match, accessible via the CSF athletics website at www.fullertontitans.com.

THE TEAMS: Fullerton iis 1-0, Akron is 1-0 and UNLV is 0-1.

CAL STATE FULLERTON: Fullerton opens it season Friday with a 1-0 win over cross-street rival Hope International. Freshman Ian Ramos scored in the 78th minute. Fullerton's two wins over Hope the past two seasons had virtually identical statistics. In 2010, Kevn Venegas scored in the 79th minute for a 1-0 win. The Titans outshot the Royals, 22-4, and goalkeeper Trevor Whiddon needed only 3 saves for the shutout. On Friday night, the Titans outshot the Royals, 22-3, and goalkeeper Whiddon needed only 1 save for the shutout.

AKRON: The Zips opened defense of the NCAA title in grand fashion Friday, avenging their only loss of 2010 with a 5-0 shutout of Cleveland State before a record home crowd 5,124. The game gave Akron the NCAA record for unbeaten streak at home at 40 (38-0-2), surpassing the mark of 39 by Tulsa. Sophomore pre-season All-American Darren Mattucks scored twice and had an assist and goalkeeper David Meves needed only one save for the shutout. Mattucks scored 18 goals last year to rank No. 3 in the nation.

UNLV: The Rebels lost their opener at Cal Poly SLO, 1-0, on a goal in the 75th minute. Goalkeeper Ryan Hardy made 5 saves for the Rebels, who were 6-11-2 last year for new coach Rich Ryerson. They are projected for fifth place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation this year, the program kept alive in great part by a \$850,000 donation from a local foundation.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Titans head to Las Vegas the following weekend for a tournament on Sept. 9 and 11 that will match themagainswt Wisconsin-Green Bay and USF.