Box Score SAINT GEORGE, UTAH -- Cal State L.A.'s men's soccer team bounced back from its surprising season-opening loss on Thursday with a well-earned victory on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second half and made it stand up in a 2-1 win over Northwest Nazarene of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Cal State L.A. (1-1) was ranked eighth in the preseason poll from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Cal State L.A. opened the season on Thursday with a 2-1 loss at Dixie State College, but the Golden Eagles jumped out to an early lead against Northwest Nazarene (0-1) and never relinquished it. The Golden Eagles held a slim 8-6 edge in shots and allowed only two shots in the second half. Goalkeeper Waleed Cassis was only called upon to make one save in the contest.

Tyler Perez and Rosario Bras both scored for the Golden Eagles, while Antti Arvola assisted on both scores.

Northwest Nazarene's Jon Curry scored on a free kick from about 26 yards out in the 76th minute for the Crusaders' lone score. Cal State L.A. didn't allow another shot for the rest of the game.

Perez gave the Golden Eagles the early lead when he collected a through ball from Arvola and knocked in a shot from about 18 yards out for his first goal of the season. The score came early, in the sixth minute of the game.

That score held up at halftime and Bras stretched the lead to 2-0 early in the second half. Arvola again set the stage, sending in a pass from the right side to Bras in the middle of the box. Bras didn't miss with a shot from about seven yards out.

The Golden Eagle defense took it from there and only wobbled after a foul led to Curry's goal late in the game.

Bras had three of Cal State L.A.'s eight shots in the game.

Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with its California Collegiate Athletic Association opener at Chico State.