Box Score LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s nationally-ranked men's soccer team got its season off to an impressive start with an impressive NCAA Division II West Region victory over Western Washington.
 
The combination of Halil Tozar and Jordan Payne broke open a scoreless tie late in the first half with goals in a 42-second span and Andre Bissmark added another goal early in the second half to complete the scoring.
 
Goalkeeper Mike Beigarten was strong when called upon. He stood up to an early flurry after a Western Washington corner kick in the opening moments of the game and he made a diving stop to thwart a Tre Hastings attempt in the second half.
 
Cal State L.A. enjoyed a 17-4 advantage in shots and a 9-3 edge in corner kicks.
 
The Golden Eagles, ranked 14^th in the nation, featured their trademark sturdy defense along with a steady offensive attack that ultimately wore Western Washington down. The Vikings, who were an impressive 11-4-3 in 2013 and are one of the top teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, managed only one shot after halftime.
 
After both teams just missed on glorious scoring chances in the opening minutes, the Golden Eagles began to generate solid pressure against the Western Washington defense. Cal State L.A. got on the board in the 35^th minute when Tozar worked his way through several Western Washington defenders before delivering a beautiful pass to Payne in the box. Payne didn't miss with a hard shot that went in past a diving Keegan Rogers.
 
Then, less than a minute later, Tozar was on the receiving end of a nice setup from Payne and he knocked a shot just inside the far post.
 
Tobias Tobrant nearly made it 3-0 before halftime when his header off a corner kick was cleared off the line by a Western Washington defender.
 
The Golden Eagles did make it 3-0 in the second half when Bissmark got on the board. Abel Teferi took a free kick from beyond midfield and Sigifredo Torres eventually got control of the ball and sent a pass to Bissmark. Cal State L.A.'s leading scorer from last season did the rest, working away from a defender and knocking a shot through a crowd and into the goal.
 
Cal State L.A. showcased its depth in the game and 20 players saw at least 15 minutes of playing time.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Saint Martin's beginning at 11:30 a.m.