FAIRFAX, Va. - Julio Arjona and Taylor Morgan combined to send the George Mason men's soccer team past unbeaten No. 24 Cal State Fullerton Sunday afternoon at George Mason Stadium. Arjona gave Mason the early advantage, while Morgan scored the game-winner in the 69th minute. With the win, the Patriots improved to 3-2-2 overall, while the Titans dropped to 5-1-1.
Mason outshot Fullerton 15-11 in the contest and won an 8-5 advantage in corner kicks. Leo Stolz and Morgan each took a team-high three shots on the afternoon to lead the Patriots, while Nick Posthuma paced the Titans, also with three. Making his second start of the season, goalkeeper Sean Cote played the full 90 minutes and made two stops to pick up his first win of the year. In the net for Fullerton, Trevor Whiddon collected five saves.
Both teams came out strong on the defensive front as the first shot took place in the 21st minute. The Patriots threatened when Morgan played a pass out to Stolz who blasted it to the far corner forcing a Titan defender to pick up the save. Mason pressured Fullerton again just three minutes later when Stolz, this time on the setup side, sent a pass to Morgan on the right, but Morgan's attempt from five-yards out sailed just high.
The Patriots continued to pressure the Titans when Morgan carried the ball from midfield and forced Whiddon into his first save of the half in the 32nd minute. Verneri Valimaa and Timmy Mulgrew put two shots on frame within a minute and a half of each other as Valimaa took a shot from 20-yards out and Mulgrew headed an attempt from five-yards, but Whiddon was there for the stops.
Holding an 8-1 advantage in shots through the first 43 minutes, the Patriots were able to convert with less than a minute to play in the opening half. Coming off a free kick, Hugh Roberts headed the ball to Arjona who sent a blast from 15-yards out to give Mason a 1-0 halftime advantage.
Fullerton evened the score early in the second half when Jonathan Birt took a throw-in that bounced back to the Titan. Birt repositioned the ball, dribbled down the right side and played it out to Posthuma who headed it in for the equalizer in the 52nd minute.
Mason regained the lead and scored the eventual game-winner when the Green and Gold drew a penalty in the goal box at the 68:21 mark. Junior Morgan converted the PK for the 2-1 lead and eventual game-winner.
Cal State Fullerton cracked the national rankings for the first time in eight years earning a No. 24 ranking in the latest Soccer America Top 25 poll. The Titans are receiving votes in the latest NSCAA National poll and are ranked fifth in the NSCAA Far West Regional poll.
George Mason opens Colonial Athletic Association play next welcoming Old Dominion to George Mason Stadium on Saturday, September 24. Match time is slated for 7 p.m.
