Hector Orellana scored on a corner kick with two minutes
remaining in the second overtime period of an extremely physical game
in a
developing rivalry to overcome a 2-0 UC Riverside lead and defeat the
Highlanders, 3-2, at the UCR Soccer Field on Wednesday.
The two teams combined for 39 fouls, seven yellow cards and two red cards,
one of which was issued to UCR starting goalie Josh Alexander in the second
overtime. Alex Keough relieved in the goal, and on the ensuing play,
Orellana nailed his corner kick into the upper left corner of the goal
for his team-leading 11th goal of the season and the victory.
With the win, Fullerton improves to 7-7-3 overall, 3-2-2 in the Big West,
while the
Highlanders fall to 3-10-3, 1-5.
UCR dominated the first half, scoring once while failing to convert on
countless opportunities in putting 11 shots on goal in the first 45 minutes.
Nick Supergan put the Highlanders out to a 1-0 lead when he scored on
a
cross from Cory Craig in the 20th minute. Supergan added a second goal
in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring on a rebound in the
61st minute.
Fullerton cut the lead in half less than a minute later, as Jason Clifford
fed Eugene Brooks on a breakaway to put the Titans on the board. Brooks
tied
the game in the 75th minute, scoring from just outside the box to send
the
game to overtime.
Alexander finished with nine saves for the Highlanders, and Kyle Polak
tallied nine as well for the Titans in evening his season's record at
1-1. UCR outshot Fullerton, 23-21, but was outshot 5-2 in the overtime
periods.
Fullerton plays next at home on Saturday night vs. Cal Poly SLO.
