POMONA – Cal State L.A.'s men's soccer team saw its nine-game winning streak come to an end Thursday and, with it, a chance for a second consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association championship.
 
The Golden Eagles grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 62^nd minute, but Cal Poly Pomona struck for two goals in a four-minute span, the second coming on a penalty kick, for a 2-1 victory at Kellogg Field. Cal State L.A. (13-3, 9-2 CCAA) had a couple of chances to tie the game, most notably a hard shot by Brett Elliott that sailed just wide from just outside the box with less than 10 minutes to play.
 
Cal Poly Pomona (16-1-1, 10-1 CCAA) bounced back from its first loss of the season on Sunday and earned its first-ever conference championship in men's soccer.
 
Cal State L.A., ranked 15^th in the nation, will now set its sights on the CCAA Championship Tournament, which it captured last year with wins over Sonoma State and UC San Diego. The Golden Eagles will go in as the tournament's No. 2 seed and play in a semi-final game on Friday in Turlock after receiving a first-round bye. Cal State L.A. is also ranked third in the West Region.

Thursday's result marked the first time this season that the Golden Eagles have surrendered more than one goal in a game. Cal State L.A. entered the match leading the country in goals against average at 0.33.
 
The game was played with high intensity, befitting of a conference title decider. Both teams finished with nine shots in the contest and Cal Poly Pomona had a slim 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
 
Cal State L.A.'s Mike Beigarten was not credited with a save, while Cal Poly Pomona goalkeeper Fernando Pablo Quevedo had three saves.
 
After a scoreless first half, the Golden Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the 62^nd minute following good pressure that resulted in a corner kick. Halil Tozar sent the corner kick into the box and Sigifredo Torres was able to head it in for his fifth goal of the season. Tozar picked up his ninth assist of the season.
 
Cal Poly Pomona, though, tied the game in the 73^rd minute when Cal State L.A. was unable to clear the ball out of danger and Christian Gonzales Diaz wound up with a close-range shot that he fired into the goal. Daniel Garcia Jr. and Justyn Peeples had the assists.
 
The Broncos then took the lead in the 77^th minute when Armando Ochoa connected on a penalty kick to give Cal Poly Pomona a 2-1 lead.
The Golden Eagles played with more desperation down the stretch and had the one good look from Elliott in the final 10 minutes, but could not get the equalizer.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Friday at Cal State Stanislaus in the CCAA Tournament against an opponent that will be determined on Sunday.