Las Vegas, NV – The #1 Colorado State Rams needed six goals in the fourth quarter to overcome what had been an 8-4 deficit to start the final frame against #7 UC-Santa Barbara on a warm day at the Kellogg-Zaher Soccer Park in Las Vegas, NV. Senior Austin Fisher (Rock Canyon HS / Highlands Ranch, CO) finished off a fast-break by fellow senior captain Tyler Zabor (Rock Canyon HS / Highlands Ranch, CO) 2:46 into the overtime frame to cap the exciting comeback and give the Rams an important 11-10 win on their first road trip of the 2013 season.
Fisher stole the show for CSU, tallying six goals and two assists to lead all scorers and tie career-highs in both points and goals. The Rams needed his heroics after falling behind by scores of 3-0, 6-3, and 8-4 throughout the game. UC-Santa Barbara was playing well on both ends of the field and looked primed to run away with the contest heading into the fourth quarter until the Rams got to work in the final 15 minutes.
Fisher started the fourth quarter scoring on an assist from senior Tim Taggart (Mountain Vista HS / Highlands Ranch, CO) and CSU ran off three more goals in the next three minutes to tie the game, including junior long-stick midfielder Zach Arthur (Cherry Creek HS / Denver, CO), who struck with 6:29 left to tie it up. UCSB answered back when CJ Jacobs buried a shot on the run with 3:26 to go, but the Rams got two markers in under a minute as Fisher and junior Sean Smith (Amherst HS / Amherst, NY) assisted each other’s goals to take their first lead with just over two minutes to play. But UCSB fought back again, getting a transition goal from Ryan Walsh with just over a minute to go to force overtime.
In the overtime period, junior netminder Koltin Fatzinger (Wheat Ridge HS / Thornton, CO) made a save on a dodge and shot from the alley and got the ball up the field to Zabor. Zabor pushed the net and fed Fisher in front for the dramatic game winner that allowed the Rams to escape the Gauchos with an 11-10 win.
The Gauchos were led by Jacobs, who put home three goals on the afternoon. Johnny Morgan also added a pair of goals and an assist for UCSB. Fisher’s eight points were good for a game-high, while Smith had a goal and three assists as well. Both teams used two goalies – CSU splitting halves between starter Jack Regan (Sunset HS / Beaverton, OR) and Fatzinger and UCSB needed back-up Axel Eyer to come in off the bench for the final 5:42 after starter Conrad Carlson suffered an injury late in the game. CSU’s goalies combined for just five saves while UCSB got 14 from their duo.
Colorado State (3-0 overall, 1-0 RMLC) is right back on the field Sunday afternoon, facing off against UNLV at 2pm. The Gauchos have finished their road trip and will take the field next weekend against UCLA and Texas. The Rams have never played UNLV in MCLA competition, but the Rebels hung tough with UCSB on Friday night before losing 8-6.