Cal State Fullerton’s men’s soccer team opened its season with a 3‑0 defeat at the hands of No. 19 Oregon State on Tuesday night, a result that underscored the narrow margin between early promise and late‑game execution.
The Titans began strongly, holding 53 percent of possession and outshooting the Beavers 7‑3 in the opening half, but two early chances slipped away. Ulises Grado missed an opening‑minute opportunity after a pass from Jose de la Torre and Alex Lugo, and Gianluca D'Amato’s shot was blocked in the 39th minute, leaving the score still level.
First‑Half Dominance
Despite the early pressure, Fullerton could not convert its possession into goals, and Oregon State began to dictate the tempo after the break, registering 20 shots to Fullerton’s three while the Titans struggled to create clear chances.
A handball in the 69th minute awarded the Beavers a penalty, which they converted to take a 1‑0 lead. The visitors added two more goals in the 84th and 89th minutes, extending their advantage and sealing a 3‑0 victory.
Fullerton will look to rebound when they host Oral Roberts on Thursday night at Titan Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m., aiming to translate early dominance into a positive result.