Oregon State Takes Down Cal State Fullerton 3-0 For First Win of the Year

After a defensive back and forth in the first half of Sunday's game against Cal State Fullerton. Oregon State's offense took control of the game in the second half, routing the Titans 3-0 to pick up their first win of the season. The Beavers record now sits at 1-0-1 as they head into a week long break.

Fernando Valenzuela and Ulises Grado got a pair of shots early for Cal State Fullerton, but neither were on target. In the 15th minute Wyatt Borso got the first shot of the night for Oregon State, but it also missed the goal.

The Beavers found themselves in danger in the 18th minute, when midfielder Jose de la Torre got a lot of room on the wing and found space to pass to the center of the box. Oregon State's defenders managed to react just in time, but for a moment it looked like the Titans were perfectly placed to get the first goal on the scoreboard.

The game, which had already been foul heavy, got even more heated around the 30 minute mark as each side picked up a yellow card. Julian Borja received one for the Titans, and a minute later Max Eisenberg picked up one for the Beavers. It was especially dangerous for the Beavers, who were still missing team captain Jacob Zapien after a red card in the team's first game.

Cal State Fullerton got another great chance in the 39th minute, when de la Torre fed the ball to Gianluca Damato who got past the Oregon State defense and streaked toward the Beaver goal. John Nicholson came out of the net to make the play right as Damato made his shot, the only shot on goal of the first half.

Oregon State got a few chances of their own before the end of the first half, with a Max Eisenberg corner forcing Fullerton goalie Asger Hemmer to make a play before the Beavers got a shot off, but nothing as dangerous as the chances the Titans got. At the end of the first the Beavers had been out shot seven to three, while the game remained tied 0-0.

Oregon State came out of the locker room with some fire, putting pressure on the Cal State Fullerton goal early and often. Milo Wray got the first shot of the half in the 48th minute, and in the 57th minute the Beavers finally started making Asger Hemmer work for the shutout.

After some concerted pressure Gonzalo Aranaz got the ball to Milo Wray in front of the goal. Wray got a fast shot off on target, but a diving save from Hemmer deflected the ball over the net. Less than a minute later Hemmer found himself out of place while Aranaz had the ball but he dove on the ball to stop the play and prevent a shot.

After keeping the pressure on, Oregon State finally found the net in the 69th minute. A foul on Evan Carlock gave Borso a penalty kick right in front of the Titan goal. With only Asger Hemmer between him and the net, Borso made his shot, putting the Beavers up 1-0.

The Beavers kept going, with Michael Nesci forcing save right after the Borso goal. Cal State Fullerton got a few chances, but the second half remaiend in Oregon State's hands. After a goalie swap to Max Leviton, Wyatt Borso found a second goal for the Beavers in the 84th minute.

In the final minutes Fullerton pressed harder than they had over the rest of the second half, with Ulises Grado getting one last shot off, but John Nicholson was on top of his game, smothering any play that seemed to develop near the goal.

In the 89th minute Milo Wray put one last ball in the net for the Beavers, capitalizing on a rebound after a blocked Diego Rodriguez shot. A shot from Fullerton's Matias Mestre was blocked in the 90th minute, and that was the last gasp of the Titan offense, sealing the shutout 3-0 win for Nicholson and the Beavers.

The Beavers will now have a chance to rest up for a week and prepare for the marquee game of their non-conference schedule. Next Sunday, August 30th, the reigning national champion Washington Huskies will come to Corvallis. The Beavers will have a chance for revenge against the team that knocked them out of the NCAA Tournament last season.

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