Box Score
LOS ANGELES– Cal State L.A.'s men's soccer team got its 2010 season off to a promising – and winning – start.
The Golden Eagles got a goal early in the second half from newcomer
Adam Hughes and made it stand up in a 1-0 win over Biola at Jesse Owens Track. Cal State L.A. (1-0) has a roster filled with 21 newcomers, but the mix of new players and veterans resulted in a familiar result. The Golden Eagles were 18-4-1 last season and were ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation.
The non-conference battle featured the No. 12-ranked team in the NCAA Division II (Cal State L.A.) against the No. 8-ranked team in the NAIA. Both teams had some quality chances in the contest, but Hughes was the only one who could find the back of the net.
The only goal of the game came after an outstanding individual effort by another Cal State L.A. newcomer,
Tim van den Bergh, who made a strong run down the sideline to set things up. After being confronted by a defender, he sent a cross that was collected by an onrushing Hughes and knocked into an open net.
Cal State L.A. had a 10-2 edge in shots, while Biola enjoyed a 10-5 advantage in corner kicks. The Eagles had four in quick fashion early in the match, but could not convert.
Cal State L.A. goalkeeper
James Irwin made four saves to pick up the win, including a dazzling diving stop of a shot by Biola's Daniel Chew.
The Golden Eagles had the best scoring chance of the first half, but a shot by
Gonzalo Pulgar clanked off the far post and out of harm's way. Cal State L.A. also just missed when a header by
Julian Ringhof, off a corner kick, got past Biola goalie Aaron Fenlason, but a defender cleared it away before it reached the net.
Biola (0-2) made things interesting after falling behind. The Eagles had a header by Cody Shelton go off the post about three minutes after Cal State L.A. got its goal and Irwin made a nice save of a header by Chew later in the second half. Cal State L.A.'s defense settled down later in the half and thwarted a late surge by the Eagles.
Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday when the Golden Eagles open California Collegiate Athletic Association play at UC San Diego. Cal State L.A.'s next home game isn't until Friday, Sept. 17 against San Francisco State.
