CORVALLIS, Ore. — Arnau Farnos scored twice to lead Oregon State to a 4-2 victory over Cal State Fullerton in a dramatic non-conference matchup that saw the Titans play most of the match with 10 men after Avery Huggins was sent off in the 37th minute.
The Beavers (4-2) dominated possession and shots but needed all 90 minutes to secure the victory against a resilient Fullerton side that refused to fold despite the numerical disadvantage.
Cal State Fullerton struck first blood in the 17th minute when Aiden Bengard finished off a well-worked move, assisted by Jose de la Torre. The early goal seemed to energize the Titans, who held their advantage for just seven minutes before Farnos equalized with his first of the night, converting a cross from Fran Cortijo to level the score at 1-1.
The match took a decisive turn nine minutes before halftime. Fernando Hernandez put Oregon State ahead 2-1 in the 36th minute, finishing off a combined effort from Paul Fecteau and Tate Richards. Just seconds later, disaster struck for the Titans when Huggins received a straight red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, leaving Cal State Fullerton to play the final 53 minutes with 10 men.
Despite being down a man, the Titans showed remarkable resilience after the break. Fernando Valenzuela briefly gave his team hope with a penalty conversion in the 60th minute, capitalizing on a foul in the box to draw the visitors level at 2-2. The penalty came immediately after Fran Cortijo had restored Oregon State's lead just 25 seconds earlier, setting up a frantic sequence that electrified the crowd.
"Playing with 10 men for that long is always going to be challenging," said Cal State Fullerton coach [name]. "I'm proud of how the guys fought, but Oregon State's quality eventually showed through."
The numerical advantage finally told in the closing stages. Farnos, who was a constant threat throughout the match with four shots on goal, sealed the victory with his second goal in the 88th minute, assisted by Aidan Marquez. The Spanish forward's clinical finishing proved the difference on a night when Oregon State peppered the Fullerton goal with 10 shots on target.
Emanuel Padilla had a busy night in goal for the Titans, making six saves to keep his team in contention despite the constant pressure. His Oregon State counterpart, John Nicolson, was called upon just once, highlighting the home team's dominance in possession and territory.
The statistics told the story of Oregon State's control: 10 shots on goal to Fullerton's 3, and 8 corner kicks to 4. The Beavers' ability to maintain pressure throughout the match, particularly after gaining the man advantage, ultimately proved decisive.
Cal State Fullerton's discipline issues extended beyond the red card, as the team accumulated 14 fouls and picked up an additional yellow card in the first half. Oregon State wasn't without its own disciplinary problems, receiving two yellow cards, including one to Pol Morlans just before halftime.
The loss drops Cal State Fullerton to 2-3-1 on the season, while Oregon State improves their home record and builds momentum heading into conference play.
For the Titans, the focus will quickly shift to regrouping after a gutsy performance that showcased both their fighting spirit and the thin margins that decide college soccer matches. Despite the defeat, there were positives to take from the match, particularly their ability to create chances and score twice despite playing over half the match with 10 men.
Oregon State, meanwhile, will be pleased with their attacking display and the contributions from multiple players. With four different goal scorers finding the net, the Beavers demonstrated the kind of offensive depth that could serve them well as the season progresses.
The match served as a reminder of soccer's unpredictable nature — a game that swung on moments of brilliance, costly mistakes, and the relentless pressure that comes with playing a man down for extended periods.