Box Score

LOS ANGELES -- Facing a two-goal deficit late in the game against defending NCAA Division II West Region champion Chico State, Cal State L.A.'s men's soccer team salvaged a well-deserved tie after some heroics from Jason Swope.

Swope connected on a penalty kick in the 81st minute to slice the deficit in half and then got the equalizer in the 88th minute to lift the Golden Eagles to a 2-2 tie Sunday at Jesse Owens Stadium. Swope wasn't done, either, because he had an outstanding chance for a third goal in the final seconds of regulation. Only a diving deflection by Chico State goalkeeper James Stroud sent the game into overtime.

Cal State L.A. (4-0-2, 2-0-2) remained unbeaten on the season with its second draw in its last three matches. Chico State (3-1-2, 2-1-1) completed a successful trip to Southern California with a 1-0-1 mark on the weekend.

Both teams had 13 shots in the game, including four each in a fast-paced second overtime period. Both teams had three corner kicks each and drew three yellow cards each. Chico State committed 18 fouls to 12 for the Golden Eagles.

The game was scoreless until the 37th minute when Chico State was fouled just inside the penalty box, earning a penalty kick. Octavio Guzman converted for the Wildcats to stake them to a 1-0 lead.

The game stayed that way until the 75th minute when Cody Levar made a clean steal for the Wildcats in Cal State L.A. territory and blasted a shot just inside the far post to make it 2-0.

Cal State L.A. stepped up the pressure facing its first deficit of the season and that pressure ultimately paid off in a big way. Timo Schwar was fouled in the box in earn Cal State L.A. a penalty kick in the 81st minute and Swope didn't miss, making it 2-1.

It was Swope again with just 2:41 remaining when he headed a ball just under the crossbar for the equalizer. The ball was sent into the box and went off a Chico State defender's head and a leaping Swope knocked it home to make it 2-2.

It was the first two goals of the season for Swope.

Swope had another opportunity before regulation ended, but Stroud came up big for the Wildcats on a shot headed toward the far post.

Chico State's Mike Janigian had the only real chance in the first overtime period, but his header went wide of the net.

Chico State's Ferid Celosmanovic, the reigning CCAA Player of the Year, had a good look from a free kick in the opening moments of the second overtime, but it sailed wide.

After Chico State controlled play for the first five minutes of the second overtime, the Golden Eagles took charge the rest of the way. Rosario Bras, the team's leading scorer, had two excellent chances to win the game. He had a header off a ball sent in from Derek Faulkner that went just wide  and he hit a hard shot that went just wide moments later.

Jordan Payne, who had a team-high four shots in the contest, then had a potential game-winning shot that hit the post with just 1:28 remaining.

Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a home game against Cal State San Bernardino.