Box Score
LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's soccer team saw its fantastic season come to a sudden and dramatic end Saturday night at Jesse Owens Track.
The Golden Eagles played an exceptional match against defending West Region champion Simon Fraser, but came up painfully short when the Clan scored in the second overtime to post a 2-1 victory in an NCAA Division II West Region second-round match.
Cal State L.A. (14-2-5) had a 15-game unbeaten streak snapped in a game that certainly could have gone either way. Simon Fraser (17-2-1) moves on to the West Region championship match next week against UC San Diego, which advanced past Chico State Saturday night in La Jolla via penalty kicks.
Jordan Payne scored the Golden Eagles' lone goal, an equalizing score in the 70th minute. Cal State L.A. had some good looks toward the end of regulation and in the first overtime period, but could not get the game-winner.
Simon Fraser, which took a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute on a goal by Jovan Blagojevic, did get the game-winner on a spectacular goal in the 106th minute. Chris Bargholz made a strong run down the right side of the field in front of the benches and sent in a perfectly-placed cross that was drilled into the net by Carlo Basso to end the match.
Simon Fraser had a 17-10 advantage in shots and a 6-4 edge in corner kicks. Cal State L.A. goalkeeper Mike Beigarten had an outstanding match and made nine saves, including a few incredible stops to thwart Simon Fraser attacks.
The Clan entered the game with the nation's top offense, while Cal State L.A. had the nation's No. 3 defense in goals against average. The intriguing matchup between the No. 5 team in the nation (Cal State L.A.) and the No. 12 team (Simon Fraser) certainly lived up to the hype in a fast-paced game between evenly-matched teams.
Simon Fraser had some early pressure, but Cal State L.A.'s Halil Tozar had the game's first real scoring chance in the 24th minute when he drilled a shot past a surprised Simon Fraser defense that hit the crossbar and stayed out.
Beigarten kept the game scoreless with a big save in the 44th minute that he just tipped away to preserve the scoreless tie.
Simon Fraser broke through in the 55th minute when Blagojevic's header in the box was tucked in just inside the far post. Colin Jacques had the assist.
Down 1-0, Cal State L.A. regrouped and wasted little time evening things up. Juan Ochoa came up with the ball in the box off a corner kick and drilled a ball toward the goal that Payne was able to re-direct into the net in the 70th minute. It was Payne's third goal of the season.
He then very nearly gave the Golden Eagles the lead in the 74th minute, but a good attempt went wide. Daniel Rodriguez had another chance that sailed just high in the 80th minute.
Simon Fraser also had a good chance late in regulation, but a long shot by Alex Rowley hit the crossbar and stayed out.
Beigarten made the save of the match in the first overtime when he dove and was able to deflect a close-range shot from Rowley with his feet to prolong the match. Cal State L.A. also thought it was on the verge of winning the game when a cross by Joshua Cortez was headed toward the goal by Sigifredo Torres. Simon Fraser goalkeeper Brandon Watson was able to deflect the ball out of danger and Cal State L.A. was unable to capitalize on the ensuing corner kick.
Basso had a shot in the 103rd minute go just high, but his point-blank attempt just two minutes later found the back of the net.;
Cal State L.A. completes its season with a program-tying 12th shutouts and also set a new program standard for fewest goals allowed in a season with 12.
The Golden Eagles won their second CCAA title in the past three years and hosted the NCAA playoffs for the second time in five years.
