TURLOCK -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team simply wouldn't be denied Thursday in a huge California Collegiate Athletic Association contest at Cal State Stanislaus.
The defending NCAA Division II West Region champs punched their ticket to the six-team CCAA Championship Tournament with a 2-1 overtime win over the Warriors at Warrior Field. Cal State LA (10-3-2, 7-3-1 CCAA) will be making its fifth straight appearance in the CCAA Championship Tournament.
Cal State LA will either earn a bye or host a first-round game at Jesse Owens Track on Tuesday depending on how games play out this weekend. The Golden Eagles can earn the second seed with a win on Saturday at Cal State East Bay and a loss or tie by Cal Poly Pomona against Sonoma State in Pomona. Cal State LA is tied with Stanislaus State with 22 points, one point back of the Broncos. The Golden Eagles hold the tiebreaker over the Warriors.
The win was also big for NCAA Division II playoff possibilities as well. Cal State LA entered the match ranked fifth in the region, while Stanislaus State was fourth. The top six teams in the region will advance to the NCAA playoffs.
Herbert Biste scored both Cal State LA goals, including the game-winner just 4:03 into overtime.
Kaan Gultoprak had the important assist, sending a cross into the box, where Biste was able to accept and then get off a shot from the penalty spot. It was Biste's fifth goal of the season and his second of the game.
Biste had given the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute with assists from
Joshua Cortez and
Shahin Hemat. Cortez sent a through ball to Biste, who shot past Stanislaus State goalkeeper Russ Klabough.
Stanslaus State (13-3-1, 7-3-1 CCAA) tied it up in the 31st minute on a goal by Josue Barajas with assists from Jose Ramirez and Gerardo Cazares. Ramirez had a header go off the crossbar and Barajas knocked in the rebound for his third goal of the season.
The Golden Eagles had a 14-13 edge in shots, including a 10-5 advantage in the second half and overtime. Cal State LA had both shots in the overtime period.
Hemat had four shots to lead the Golden Eagles, while
Marvin Iskra had three shots and Biste,
Steven Eberle and
Tobias Tobrant had two each.
Anthony Perez made two saves for the Golden Eagles.
Cal State LA will conclude its regular season at Cal State East Bay at 2 p.m.
