LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's soccer team dropped out of the national Top-25 this week, but the Golden Eagles played like one of the nation's premier teams Tuesday night.

 

The Golden Eagles earned a 1-1 tie with No. 4 Seattle Pacific Tuesday in a well-played match between two of the four NCAA Division II Far West Region playoff participants from a year ago. In fact, Tuesday's game was a rematch of last year's first-round playoff contest won by Cal State L.A., 2-1.

 

This time, the Falcons (4-0-2) got on the board in the 19^th minute on a goal by Jeff Coggan, only to see the Golden Eagles' relentless pressure finally result in a second-half goal by returning All-American Morten Marthinsen in the 65^th minute to tie the game.

 

Both squads had opportunities in the latter stages of the match, but both defenses were able to preserve the tie. Cal State L.A. goalie Tobias Hummel made six saves, while Seattle Pacific goalie Kellen Rosten made eight saves.

 

Cal State L.A. (3-2-2), which was ranked as high as sixth in the country earlier this season, fell out of the national rankings after losses last week to Seattle University and Sonoma State. The Golden Eagles enjoyed a 17-10 edge in shots on Tuesday. Both teams finished with three corner kicks.

 

The Falcons took a 1-0 lead on a hard shot by Coggan in the 19^th minute. After a flurry in front of the Golden Eagle net, the ball was rolling toward the outside of the box. Coggan came sprinting in and, in full stride, ripped a shot that found the back of the net.

 

Cal State L.A.'s Kristian Gaustad took a tremendous left-footed shot in an attempt to tie the game a few minutes later, but Rosten made a diving deflection to keep his team ahead. Hummel made three big saves for the Golden Eagles in the opening half, denying Jeff Coggan, James Coggan and Jeff Hallenbeck of golden scoring opportunities.

 

The Golden Eagles began applying more pressure in the opening stages of the second half. Marvin Sandoval had a nice chance, but Rosten made a diving save. Marthinsen had a clean shot sail over the crossbar.

 

In the 65^th minute, though, the Golden Eagles finally connected. Massaquoi sent in a cross that Marthinsen soared high in the air to knock into the Falcon goal. It was Marthinsen's team-leading fifth goal of the season.

 

The Golden Eagles had several chances to win the game in regulation. Massaquoi sent a shot just over the crossbar, Gaustad sent one over the bar and Marthinsen directed a pass from Massaquoi high over the crossbar.

 

Seattle Pacific then had a golden opportunity to win it with two minutes left in regulation. A shot by Matt Kemper hit the left goalpost and a rebound attempt by Alec Nelson went over the crossbar.

 

Cal State L.A. got the better of it in the first overtime, only to see Rosten come up withy big saves. David Mora had a high shot in traffic that was batted away by the Seattle Pacific keeper and he also made saves on attempts by Sandoval and Marthinsen.

 

Seattle Pacific had a pair of corner kicks and a pair of throw-ins deep in Cal State L.A. territory in the second overtime, but the Golden Eagle defense prevented a shot.

 

Cal State L.A. will resume California Collegiate Athletic Association action on Friday with a home match against Cal Poly Pomona.