SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sophomore Angad Singh came through with his first goal of the year with just under three minutes to play in the match to bring the host Hornets to within a goal, but Sacramento State couldn't complete the comeback on Saturday afternoon, falling to visiting Cal State Fullerton by a 2-1 score at Hornet Soccer Field.
Singh, who played only seven minutes in a reserve role, became the seventh different goal scorer for the Hornets this season off passes from Allbranly Gue and Jonathan Dadzie that halved the Titan advantage. Off a throw, Gue chipped a ball from the right side toward the back post where Dadzie was able to head it into the middle of the box at the top of the six.
Sean Battistessa was in position, but was shouldered down to the ground, which caused the Fullerton defense to pause just long enough for Singh to pounce on the loose ball and left-foot a shot into the net for his first career goal.
The Hornets had one more chance to equalize with a corner in the 89th minute, but the set piece went for naught as the horn sounded on the Titan win.
Cal State Fullerton wasted little time in taking control after a shot by Battistessa was turned away by the Titan keeper and three straight corners came up empty. Fullerton broke the scoreless deadlock in the fourth minute on a goal by Fernando Valenzuela and added a second thanks to Jose de la Torre, who finished with a match-high six attempts, in the 20th minute after Alex Lugo was turned away on a 1-v-1 opportunity just seconds earlier.
Junior Donovan Sessoms had a pair of golden chances early in the second as his first sailed just high over the bar in the 52nd and his second shot from distance in the 61st was just tipped over the bar by the Fullerton keeper. Sessoms led the team with four shots, two of those on goal.
The Titans finished with a 13-10 advantage in shots, putting nine of those on frame to just five for the Hornets. Goalkeeper Lucas Bost finished with a career high seven saves for Sacramento State, while Emanuel Padilla finished with four stops — three of those in the second half — for Fullerton.
Following three straight matches at home, the Hornets hit the road for their next two in league play, traveling to CSUN on Wednesday (Oct. 8) before taking on UC Riverside on Saturday (Oct. 11). Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
