FINAL SCORE: Cal State Fullerton 2, Vermont 1
FULLERTON, Calif. – The Catamounts came within inches of tying the game in the final minute when the match came down to the wire, but Cal State Fullerton managed to walk away with a 2-1 victory on Friday night.
 
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UVM drops to an even 3-3 on the season while Cal State Fullerton improves to 4-3 after winning its second straight contest.
 
Geo Alves eyed the first goal of the game in the fourth minute. After receiving a cross, the junior lined a shot from 25 yards out but Cal State Fullerton keeper Alfredo Cortez (4 saves) managed to make the save.
 
At the midway point of the first half, the Titans nearly found the back of the net. Michael Lopez was right in front of the net for a header but his attempt flew too high over the crossbar. Four minutes later, UVM redshirt freshman goalie Alex Popovich (2 saves) preserved the scoreless tie with a clutch save. The Titans were threatening on a corner kick when Bass Sarr jumped up for the header on the right side of the six-yard box but Popovich caught the potential score with a diving save.  
 
Five minutes into the second half, Sarr gave the Titans a 1-0 lead with his first goal of the season. Cal State Fullerton worked a give-and-go from the right side and Sarr dribbled into the box and beat a diving Popovich with a low touch.
 
The Catamounts tied the game at 1-1 in the 59th minute with Justin Freitas' second goal of the season. After a failed clear attempt by the Titans, Freitas gathered the loose ball inside of the goalkeeper box and tapped in the easy score.
 
Cal State Fullerton netted the eventual game-winner in the 77th minute after Brian Peek collected his own rebound. Peek took a shot from 15 yards out that was initially deflected by a UVM defender, but the ball bounced right back to Peek and he sliced a shot into the top right corner of the net.  
 
The Cats had a pair of chances for another equalizer late in the match. In the 83rd minute, Freitas received a long through ball and he sprinted past the Titans' backline for the 1-on-1 chance with Cortez. Freitas lined an attempt from 10 yards out but Cortez knocked the shot away with a sliding save. In the final seconds, the Cats pushed the tempo as Clay Gattey bent a right-footed shot from the left corner of the box towards the far post but could not sneak the attempt under the crossbar.
 
Vermont closes out its California trip on Sunday (Sept. 17) at UC Riverside with a 2 p.m. (EST) kickoff.