POMONA -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team came up big when its season was on the line Thursday in a first-round NCAA Division II playoff game against Stanislaus State.

The Golden Eagles erased a 1-0 halftime deficit on a goal by Miguel Galvan Lara in the 58th minute and then advanced on penalty kicks, 3-0, after the game ended in a 1-1 tie. Anthony Perez stopped two of Stanislaus State's three penalty tries and Herbert Biste, Steven Eberle and Kaan Gultoprak converted on their attempts to send Cal State LA to the regional semi-finals. Cal State LA, the defending region champions and No. 5 seeds, will face top-seed and tourney host Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Cal State LA is making its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and its eighth in the last 10 years.

Ironically, this marks the second straight year the Golden Eagles advanced past the first round on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie. Last year, the Golden Eagles advanced past UC San Diego on penalty kicks in the opening round.

Cal State LA finished with a 27-21 advantage in shots and really picked up the pace after a slow start. The Golden Eagles had a 6-5 edge in corner kicks. Perez had a sensational game even before his heroics in the penalty kicks. He had 10 saves during regulation, including six in the  first half and four more in the second.

Stanislaus State took a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute when Luis Hernandez ripped a free kick into the goal and the Golden Eagles were unable to get much of attack going in the first 45 minutes.

That all changed in the second half when the Golden Eagles began to find their stride. Cal State LA attacked almost from the start of the second period and saw a shot by Biste hit the crossbar and a dangerous shot by Joshua Cortez sail just wide of the far post.

Then, after Marvin Iskra was fouled on an attack, Gultoprak sent in a free kick that deflected off a defender to Galvan Lara, who hit a hard shot on the ground and into the net.

Galvan Lara had an excellent second half and was a constant threat. The Golden Eagles also got some effective play from Brett Elliott and some dangerous runs from Troy Dumlao and Iskra. Dumlao had the best chance  to end the game in overtime when he hustled to deflect a punt from Stanislaus State goalkeeper Russ Klabough, tracked down the loose ball and lofted a shot that went over Klabough, but was headed out by Stanislaus State defender Brady Taylor.

Biste had the best chance in the second overtime, but his hard shot hit the side of the net from a sharp angle.

Perez got the Golden Eagles off to a good start in the penalty kicks, smothering Stanislaus State's first attempt. Biste hit his shot to put the Golden Eagles ahead for good. Stanislaus State put its second shot high over the crossbar and Eberle then knocked his in to make it 2-0. When Perez stopped another attempt, that left it up to Gultoprak to send the Golden Eagles to the next round with his successful try.

Cal State LA advances to the semi-final round for the fifth straight year.