FULLERTON, Calif. – Sophomore goalkeeper James Del Curto made a season-high seven saves, including several brilliant stops in the second half, but Cal State Fullerton scored twice over a two minute stretch in the first half and held the Hornets without a shot on goal in a 2-0 win on Thursday night.

Sacramento State (3-5-1, 0-1-0 Big West) took its first loss since Sept. 13 in dropping its Big West opener. Cal State Fullerton (6-4-0, 1-0-0 Big West), the defending Big West Tournament champion, improved to 5-1 at home this season.

The Titans had a 17-3 advantage in shots for the game and did not allow a single Hornet shot on goal. Cal State Fullerton had relentless pressure on the Hornet goal for most of the game, placing nine total shots on goal and outshooting the Hornets 12-2 in the second half.

The Hornets were credited with just one shot in the first half but it was a good one, as redshirt freshman Brad Bumgarner had a clean look on goal but missed just wide to the far post. That shot came in the 18th minute, and less than two minutes later the Titans got on the board.

On a scramble in their box the Hornets failed to clear and Zach Brian collected the ball inside the top of the box and buried a shot to the top of the goal. Less than two minutes later, in the 22nd minute, Cal State Fullerton connected passes in a break on goal and Ronaldo Pineda redirected a cross from Diego Sanchez into the left side of the Hornet goal.

Del Curto made two saves in the first half and five in the second. Bumgarner had another decent look on goal in the 56th minute but missed high, and freshman Jessie Gonzalez had the only other Hornet shot as he missed wide on a free kick in the 82nd minute.

Cal State Fullerton picked up its Big Sky-leading fifth shutout of the year, with goalkeeper David Elias earning the blank sheet without making a save, and has now allowed just 10 goals in 10 games this year. In addition to the shot advantage the Titans also had an 11-2 edge in corner kicks, 7-0 in corners in the second half.

Sacramento State completes the first weekend of conference play facing UC Riverside on Saturday night. The Highlanders are 4-5-1 overall and 0-1 in the Big West after a 2-0 home loss to UC Davis on Thursday.