POMONA -- Cal State L.A.'s women's soccer team found a winning formula Sunday and picked up its first victory of the 2015 season.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early lead after a penalty kick goal by Veronika Steen in the 14th minute and then managed the game well from there, posting an impressive 1-0 victory over Cal Poly Pomona in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game at Kellogg Field. Cal State L.A. (1-5-2, 1-2-1 CCAA) recorded its second shutout of the season and continued its season-long stretch of well-defended games.

That defensive strength didn't translate into a victory until Sunday. The Golden Eagles have allowed one goal or less in seven of their eight games this season and all five defeats have come by one goal, four of them by 1-0 decisions.

But they got the early goal on Sunday and never looked back.

Although Cal Poly Pomona had a 12-5 edge in shots, Cal State L.A.'s defense made sure the Broncos were mostly kept at bay. The defensive back-line of Jackeline Lopez, Danielle Telles, Shelby Nieto and Katelyn Fregosi was outstanding and goalkeeper Adriana Maldonado made seven saves for her second shutout of the season.

The fact the win came against Cal Poly Pomona (5-3, 2-2 CCAA) was also gratifying. Some off-the-field issues that came to light after the season ended only added to the fuel for Cal State L.A. to pick up its big win on Sunday.

Steen, one of the few returners from the 2014 CCAA championship team,  got the Golden Eagles on the board early on Sunday. She was taken down in the box after making a dangerous run and promptly converted the penalty kick for her first goal of the season.

The Golden Eagles very nearly made it a 2-0 lead in the 57th minute when a shot by Katarina Karabetsos hit the crossbar and stayed out and a second attempt was later saved by Cal Poly Pomona goalkeeper Ricki Ives.

Maldonado made three straight saves in the early minutes of the second half, but the Golden Eagles limited the opportunities the rest of the way. Cal Poly Pomona's best chance to equalize came in the 86th minute when a shot by Reanne Macon hit the post and a follow-up shot by Haley James went wide. The Broncos got a last-ditch corner kick in the 89th minute by James, but were unable to get off a shot.

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Friday with a home match against Cal State San Marcos at 7 p.m.