SANTA ROSA -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team saw a topsy-turvy afternoon end on a disappointing note at Sypher Field on the campus of Santa Rosa Junior College.
With California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament positions changing almost by the minute, the Golden Eagles fell to Sonoma State, 3-2, in overtime, in the regular-season finale. Cal State LA (9-5-3, 7-5 CCAA) slipped to the No. 6 spot with the loss and will face No. 3 Cal Poly Pomona in a first-round game on Tuesday.
When the dust finally settled on a flurry of one-goal results, all decided within minutes of each other, UC San Diego had the regular-season title and the No. 1 seed with 28 points, Sonoma State (26 points) was the No. 2 seed, Cal Poly Pomona (25 points) was the No. 3 seed, Chico State (24 points) was the No. 4 seed, Cal State San Bernardino (22 points) was the No. 5 seed and Cal State LA (21 points) was No. 6.
The game with Sonoma State on Saturday was a physical battle with a total of 38 fouls (20 on Sonoma State and 18 on Cal State LA) and six yellow cards (two on Cal State LA and four on Sonoma State). Each team received a penalty kick in the contest.
Cal State LA had a slim 9-8 advantage in shots and a 2-0 edge in corner kicks.
Dan Arnoll had two saves for Cal State LA and Mitch North had two saves for Sonoma State.
After a scoreless first half, the teams exchanged goals in the second period. Sonoma State struck first with a penalty kick goal by Eric Alvarado after a hand ball called on Cal State LA in the 52nd minute. The Golden Eagles tied it when
Ryan Arkelian scored his first goal of the season with an assist from
Shahin Hemat.
Sonoma State regained the lead when Maury Lopez headed in a cross from Daniel Theobald, but Cal State LA tied it again in the 84th minute when
Steven Eberle converted a penalty kick for his team-leading seventh goal of the season.
The Seawolves won it with the only shot of overtime when Andrew Ogilvy scored on a header in the 93rd minute.
Cal State LA will now face Cal Poly Pomona for the third time this season on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
