Oughton, Titans’ Top-Scorer, Hopes to Foil No. 1 Defense

Cal State Fullerton and Duncan Oughton, the Titans’ career goal-scoring leader, will face the nation’s top-ranked defense when they meet Stanford in the first round of the NCAA men’s soccer playoffs at 7:30 tonight in Palo Alto.

“We know we’re going to be the underdog,” Oughton said. “But that’s fine. I still think we can beat them. I wish we were playing at home, but we’re excited to be in the playoffs.”

Stanford (16-2-1) is seeded No. 3 nationally behind No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Clemson. Fullerton (15-5-1) had won eight consecutive games before losing to San Jose State, 3-2, Saturday in the finals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament.

Stanford’s goals-against average of 0.40 is the best in the nation. The Cardinal has given up only eight goals and has 14 shutouts this season. Senior Adam Zapala has 50 career shutouts and a 0.63 career goals-against average.

The Titans rank ninth in the nation with a 2.81 goals-per-game average, and Oughton leads the way with 17 goals and 42 points. He has become the school’s all-time career leader with 41 goals, surpassing the previous record of 38 set by Eddie Soto in 1992-94.

Oughton is one goal shy of Fullerton’s season goal-scoring record set by Soto in 1994. Oughton has tied the school’s season scoring record, which includes points and assists, set by Colby Jackson in 1998.

“Duncan has had a terrific career for us,” Coach Al Mistri said. “We’ve nominated him for the All-American team and I think he’s very deserving. In my mind, he’s one of the top college players in the country.”

Oughton, a native of Karori, Wellington in New Zealand, will be facing another top New Zealand player in Stanford midfielder Ryan Nelsen. Nelsen was selected as the Pacific 10 Conference player of the year this week.

Nelsen and Oughton have played on the New Zealand under-23 national team, though not at the same time. Nelsen played last summer. Oughton played in 1999, but didn’t return last summer.

“[Nelsen] wasn’t at Stanford when we played them there two years ago,” Oughton said. “But I know he’s a good player. We played against each other in one of the men’s leagues in New Zealand. I knew then that he was going off to America to play, and so was I.”

Nelsen played at Greensboro (N.C.) College, a Division III school, for two years before transferring to Stanford.

In their last meeting, Fullerton and Stanford played to a 1-1 tie in 1998.

Matt Moses, who played at Santa Margarita High, is a starting midfielder for the Cardinal. He has eight points, all on assists.

Fullerton senior goalkeeper Sean Rockwell is expected to return to the starting lineup for the match after missing the game against San Jose because of a bruised foot.