LOS ANGELES – Cal State LA's men's soccer team got an explosive second half to advance in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament.
 
The Golden Eagles struck for three goals in the second half to break a scoreless tie and beat UC San Diego, 3-1, Tuesday night at Jesse Owens Track. No. 3 seed Cal State LA (12-3-2) advances to the conference semi-finals on Friday at 7 p.m. at No. 2 seed Cal Poly Pomona.
 
Cal State LA got goals from Samuel Kersh, Eduardo Almaraz and Kaan Gultoprak and five saves in goal from Anthony Perez in the impressive win over No. 6 seed UC San Diego (6-6-6).
 
The Golden Eagles lost to the Tritons, 1-0, in Los Angeles during the regular season on Oct. 4.
 
After a scoreless first half that saw only seven combined shots, the Golden Eagles turned things up a notch in the second period. Kersh opened the scoring with a spectacular flick in the box of a lengthy free kick from Gultoprak. It was Kersh's first goal of the season.
 
The game remained at 1-0 thanks to a spectacular sequence from Perez that preserved the one-goal lead. UC San Diego's Sam Palano got a shot from point-blank range, but Perez made a diving save to deflect it. Palano was the first to the rebound, but Perez smothered his bid from a sharp angle to thwart the Tritons.
 
Almaraz then made it 2-0 in the 76^th minute following a corner kick from Herbert Biste. The corner kick sailed smartly into the box, where Kersh was able to leap and head it toward Almaraz. The senior midfielder quickly fired a shot into the net for his third goal of the season.
 
Then, seven minutes later, Gultoprak drilled in a free kick from distance to give the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead. It was Gultoprak's third goal of the season.
 
UC San Diego got its goal in the 87^th minute when Nick Palano knocked in a pass from Uly De La Cal right in front of the goalmouth.
 
Both teams finished with 10 shots and the Golden Eagles had a 4-2 edge in corner kicks. Perez made five saves and UC San Diego goalkeeper Cameron McElfresh made three saves.
 
Gultoprak and Kersh both ended up with a goal and an assist for the Golden Eagles. Biste and Almaraz both had a pair of shots.
 
Cal State LA will play Cal Poly Pomona on Friday at 7 p.m. in the conference semi-finals with the winner advancing to face the winner of Cal State Dominguez Hills-Stanislaus State on Sunday in the tournament championship match.