Box Score PHOENIX, AZ -- Cal State L.A.'s men's soccer team was more than happy to repeat its experience from last year in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs on a cool and sometimes rainy Thursday night at Grand Canyon University.

The Golden Eagles advanced via penalty kick shootout in the opening round for a second straight year, moving on after battling Seattle Pacific to a 1-1 draw through regulation and two overtime periods. Cal State L.A. then converted all five of its penalty kicks to advance to the second round, where they will face No. 2 seed and host Grand Canyon on Saturday.

Last year, Cal State L.A. played Chico State to a 2-2 draw and moved on via penalty kicks on its way to the West Region championship. In that contest, the Golden Eagles trailed 2-0 well into the second half before rallying for the tie. On Thursday, in a tight and evenly-played contest, the Golden Eagles trailed for only three minutes before tying the game late in the first half.  

Cal State L.A. (11-4-4), the No. 6 seed, eliminated No. 3 seed Seattle Pacific for the second year in a row. Last year, the Golden Eagles edged the Falcons, 3-2, in the West Region champonshp match. Seattle Pacific ends its season with an 11-3-5 record after a well-played match.

Cal State L.A. held a 16-13 advantage in shots and had a 9-7 edge in corner kicks. The strong Seattle Pacific defense held strong, though, and the opportunistic Golden Eagles took advantage of a mistake late in the first half to tie the match.

In the shootout, all five Cal State L.A. players were on the mark. Antti Arvola, Juan Ochoa, Halil Tozar, Rosario Bras and Dane Nielsen all scored for the Golden Eagles. Seattle Pacific was successful on its first four attemtps before the final try bounced off the crossbar.

The Golden Eagles got an outstanding match from goalkeeper Waleed Cassis, who made seven saves, including three big stops in the first overtime period. He also made three saves in the second half and was the top player in the match.

Bras was another Golden Eagle who was outstanding on Thursday. After Seattle Pacific took a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute on a beautiful volley from Matt Merchant off a corner kick by Corey McGuire, Bras jumped all over an attempted clearance that was mishit. Bras sent a picture-perfect dart from outside the box that nestled inside the far post for the equalizer with just 22 seconds  remaining in the first half.

Cal State L.A. had some good looks in the second half, but its shots were mostly off-frame. The Golden Eagles were on their heels for most of the first overtime period and saw Seattle Pacific come close to a game-winner when a shot by Christopher Morris struck the outside of the far post and bounced away. Cassis took it from there, keeping the Falcons at bay while his teammates regrouped.

All 14 players who saw action for the Golden Eagles on Thursday were instrumental in the win. Starters Cassis, Andy Lopez, Bras, Erik Vargas, Arvola, Daniel Rodriguez, Ochoa, Tozar, Christhian Reyes, Erick Escobedo and Nielsen all played well and reserves Oscar Carrillo, Jordan Payne and Ricardo Sandoval gave the Golden Eagles some key minutes as well. Bras led the team with six shots, while Payne was dangerous with three shots and Sandoval added two shots.

Cal State L.A. will now advance to the second round on Saturday at 6 p.m. (PST) at Grand Canyon