LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's soccer team had a decided advantage in scoring opportunities, but needed an inadvertent assist from Seattle Pacific's defense to post an important NCAA Division II West Region win.

 

The Golden Eagles outshot the Falcons, 25-5, but needed an own goal with 1:08 left in regulation to pull out a 2-1 victory over Seattle Pacific Wednesday night at Jesse Owens Track. Cal State L.A. (14-2-1) recorded its third straight victory.

 

The game pitted two of the three top-ranked teams in the West Region. Cal State L.A., ranked 10^th in the nation, is No. 1 in the West Region, while Seattle Pacific, ranked 23^rd in the nation, came into the match ranked No. 3.

 

Cal State L.A. got the first goal of the game in the 42^nd minute on a penalty kick by Aza Gomez. It was the fifth goal of the season for Gomez.

 

That goal held up until the 76^th minute when Tyler Schultz got the equalizer with an assist from Richie Evoy.

 

Cal State L.A. then put the pressure on Seattle Pacific and after Federico Cino and Mauricio Barrett were keeping the ball alive deep in the box, a Seattle Pacific defender inadvertently hit the ball and it trickled just inside the near post and just out the reach of Seattle Pacific goaltender Kuehn.

 

The Golden Eagle defense kept the Falcons without a shot for the final 68 seconds of the game.

 

The Falcons started the game with a flurry and had two corner kicks in the first five minutes of the match. Cal State L.A. then began generating some excellent scoring chances, either to shoot off-target or get denied by Kuehn. Tony Hernandez had the first good chance, hitting a shot that went just over the crossbar after a steal in the seventh minute. Kristian Gaustad then had a chance in the 12^th minute that sailed just wide and Cino had a shot from a sharp angle that went just wide after a perfect pass from Gaustad.

 

Kuehn made a nice save on a point-blank shot by Hector Macias in the 25^th minute and Spencer Tripp shot one wide in the 40^th minute.

Seattle Pacific's best opportunity in the first half came on a dangerous throw-in by Brandon Kuenzi that was volleyed around in front of Cal State L.A. goalie Tobias Hummel before finally being cleared.

 

Gomez put the Golden Eagles ahead in the 42^nd minute after a Seattle Pacific foul in the box resulted in a penalty kick.

 

The Golden Eagles seemed to have things in hand for most of the second half with the 1-0 lead, but Seattle Pacific had a strong stretch that resulted in the equalizer. A shot by Corey McGuire hit the post in the 72^nd minute and, less than three minutes later, Evoy connected with Schultz on a nice pass and Schultz hit a shot inside the far post for the tie.

 

That set the stage for the dramatic finish.

 

Cal State L.A. will return to action with its final regular-season home game on Friday afternoon against Western Washington. The Golden Eagles, who have clinched a spot in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament, will conclude conference play next week with games at UC San Diego and Cal State East Bay.