LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's soccer team found the going tough once again against a top NCAA Division II West Region opponent.
 
The Golden Eagles gave up an early goal and never could quite get the equalizer in a 1-0 loss to unbeaten Azusa Pacific Saturday night at Jesse Owens Track. No. 14 Cal State L.A. (0-2-1) fell by a 1-0 decision for the second straight time.
 
In fact, Cal State L.A. followed a familiar script to its 1-0 loss to Point Loma earlier in the week. In that game, the Golden Eagles surrendered an early goal and couldn't battle back.
 
On Saturday, the Golden Eagles gave up a goal in the second minute of play and faced an uphill battle the rest of the way.
 
For Azusa Pacific, the result was also a familiar one. The Cougars (4-0) have won all four games by shutout against CCAA opponents Cal State L.A., UC San Diego, Cal State East Bay and Stanislaus State.
 
The only goal of the game came courtesy of Katelyn Rogers. After a dangerous corner kick by Haley Arft was battled for in the box, Victoria Kovatch sent a header toward the goal that Rogers was able to get a foot on. The shot bounced off the lower part of the crossbar and ultimately into the goal.
 
From there, the game was evenly fought. Cal State L.A. had a 13-9 advantage in shots, although both teams did an outstanding job of keeping the majority of the shots from a distance. Azusa Pacific goalkeeper Zoey Bauman made five saves and so did Cal State L.A. goalkeeper Adriana Maldonado.
 
Both goalkeepers had shining moments in the second half. Bauman made a sensational, diving stop of a bid by Cal State L.A.'s Danielle Telles early in the second half. An onrushing Telles drilled a shot headed toward the near post, but Bauman dove expertly and knocked the ball away. Cal State L.A. earned a corner kick, but couldn't capitalize.
 
Maldonado's best moment came when she alertly sprinted forward and made a sliding grab of a pass that was sent toward an onrushing Azusa Pacific attacker.
Victoria Arredondo had a strong match for the Golden Eagles and had a match-high three shots.
 
Each team had five corner kicks.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Monday with a road non-conference game against CCAA foe UC San Diego in La Jolla.