HAYWARD -- Cal State L.A.'s men's soccer team wrapped up a first-round bye in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament and moved into a first-place tie in the process.
The Golden Eagles took care of business with a 4-0 victory over Cal State East Bay on Sunday in Hayward. Cal State L.A. (13-2, 9-1 CCAA) won its ninth straight game and recorded its 10th shutout of the season. After Cal Poly Pomona's overtime loss at Sonoma State on Sunday, the Golden Eagles and Broncos are now tied for first in the conference with 27 points. Those two teams will play on Thursday with the conference championship on the line. The winner will claim the title; a tie will mean a co-championship.
Cal State L.A., the defending conference champion, set up the first-place showdown with another solid display on Sunday. The Golden Eagles, ranked 17th in the nation and third in the West Region, got a pair of goals from
Andre Bissmark and one goal each from
Herbert Biste and
Marvin Iskra. Cal State L.A. took a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute on Biste's third goal of the season and got a big advantage when Cal State East Bay (4-8-5, 0-6-4 CCAA) received a red card late in the first half.
The Golden Eagles added three goals in the second half, two from Bissmark in the first 15 minutes of the period. He scored with an assist from Biste in the 48th minute and scored again in the 60th minute with an assist from
Miguel Galvan Lara. Galvan Lara also assisted on Biste's goal.
Bissmark now has four goals this season.
Iskra made it 4-0 with his third goal of the season and his second in as many games with assists from
Jordan Payne and
Sigifredo Torres.
Mike Beigarten made four saves for the shutout and came up huge once again when needed. Cal State East Bay was awarded a penalty kick in the final minute, burt Beigarten stopped Rica Guerra's attempt to preserve the shutout.
Cal State L.A. had a 17-11 edge in shots and a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Thursday with the battle for the conference championship at Cal Poly Pomona at 4:30 p.m.
