Box Score
LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's soccer team got its season off to a successful start Thursday night with a big NCAA Division II West Region victory over Azusa Pacific.
The Golden Eagles were opportunistic while taking a 1-0 halftime lead and then recorded a pair of beautiful goals in the second half to post a 3-0 win over the Cougars at Jesse Owens Stadium. Cal State L.A. (1-0) is ranked 21st in the country.
Cal State L.A. had a 15-4 advantage in shots and was able to weather some decent scoring opportunities by the Cougars when the game was still a 2-0 contest. Steven Barrera had two saves in his first start for the Golden Eagles.
Andre Bissmark, in his first Cal State L.A. appearance, had a pair of goals to lead the offense. TJ Perez had the other goal for the Golden Eagles.
Halil Tozar had a strong game and had a team-high five shots. Tozar, who had a team-high eight assists last season, picked up his first assist of the season on Thursday on Bissmark's second goal.
Azusa Pacific got four saves from goalkeeper Chip Cox, a pair of quality shots on goal by Billy Flores and Daniel Stratton and a close-call attempt by Raul Martinez.
Cal State L.A. opened the scoring just 1:29 into the game in opportunistic fashion. Cox dropped a long free kick by Nathan Castillo and Bissmark pounced on the ball and knocked it into the net.
The Golden Eagles struck quickly in the second half as well and made it 2-0 due a pair of outstanding individual efforts. Troy Dumlao was able to make a perfect through pass to Perez while he was being fouled by an Azusa Pacific defender. Perez controlled the pass and drilled a shot inside the far post to give the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead.
Bissmark then put the game away in the 74th minute with a jaw-dropping goal. He was able to corral a pass from Tozar and then whipped around and fired a quick shot that found the inside of the far post for the Golden Eagles' third goal.
Cal State L.A. received solid work from its backline of Castillo, Dane Nielsen, Christhian Reyes and Daniel Rodriguez.
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Sunday with a home game against Saint Martin's beginning at 11:30 a.m.
