LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's soccer team got a big goal from Aza Gomez just in the nick of time in the Golden Eagles' 2009 season opener.

 

Gomez got to a corner kick from Kristian Gaustad and kicked it into the right corner of the net late in regulation to lift Cal State L.A. to a 2-1 win over NCAA Division II West Region opponent Hawaii-Hilo Saturday night at Jesse Owens Track. Cal State L.A., ranked 14^th in the nation, got the game-winning goal with less than seven minutes left in regulation.

 

Cal State L.A. (1-0) enjoyed a 19-9 edge in shots, but was thwarted for the most part by a strong defensive effort from Hawaii-Hilo's defense. The Vulcans got eight saves from starting goalie Ivan Mercado.

 

The meeting was a matchup of two of the top teams in the West Region last season. Hawaii-Hilo was in contention for a postseason berth all the way to the end of the season, while Cal State L.A. secured the third seed in the West and advanced to the West Region championship game.

 

The Golden Eagles struck first in the 19^th minute when Gaustad scored the first goal of the season with an assist from Gomez. The play started when Gomez sent in a perfectly-placed pass to Gaustad, who was able to flick the ball over an onrushing Mercado and into the empty net.

 

Cal State L.A. held its 1-0 lead at halftime and generated some good scoring chances early in the second half. It was the Vulcans, though, who got the first goal of the second period to tie the game at 1-1. Alex Shaw had a shot blocked by the Golden Eagle defense, but Eduardo Gutierrez got to the rebound and quickly rifled the ball into the left corner of the net in the 67^th minute.

 

The score remained tied until the Golden Eagles' pressure resulted in a corner kick. Gaustad sent a kick toward a crowd in front of the Hawaii-Hilo goal. The ball got past the initial group, but Gomez was able to reach it from the left side of the box and he drilled the ball before it hit the ground and into the goal.

 

The Vulcans had some good pressure in the waning moments of the game, but a shot by Vincent Muscarella sailed wide and a shot by Gutierrez with just seconds left was blocked by the defense.

Cal State L.A. goalie Tobias Hummel made one save and also thwarted several Hawaii-Hilo attacks by coming out of the goal to clear away dangerous passes before the Vulcan forwards could get to them.

 

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Wednesday with a home match against Montana State-Billings at 7 p.m.