LOS ANGELES – Cal State LA's men's soccer team put together a winning effort Friday night in its return to California Collegiate Athletic Association play.
 
The Golden Eagles scored the first three goals of the game and made them stand up in a 3-1 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay Friday night at Jesse Owens Track. Cal State LA (5-0-3, 3-0 CCAA) won its fourth straight game after outshooting Cal State Monterey Bay (2-4-2, 0-3-2 CCAA), 15-5.
 
Cal State LA, ranked No. 12 in the nation, took a 1-0 lead in the 10^th minute of the game. Femi Kaffo was dragged down in the penalty box after a strong run and Steven Eberle converted the penalty kick for his fifth goal of the season.
 
The Golden Eagles made it 2-0 in the 52^nd minute when Samuel Croucher scored his first goal of the season. Eddie Leon started the play by getting the ball to Shahin Hemat, who made a nice pass to Croucher, who drilled a shot from the top of the box past Cal State Monterey Bay goalkeeper Jakob Hansen.
 
Leon also figured in a goal in the 74^th minute that gave the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead. He centered the ball to Jonathan Hinojosa, who rifled a left-footed shot inside the far post for his second goal of the season.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay got its goal just one minute later when Michael Maul took a pass and placed a shot inside the far post for his first goal of the season.
 
Cal State LA had a 10-1 edge in shots in the first half and a 5-4 advantage in the second period. Cal State LA had a 6-1 edge in corner kicks with all six coming in the second half. Steven Barrera made one save for the Golden Eagles, while Jakob Hansen made three saves for the Otters.
 
Eberle had a match-high four shots for Cal State LA, while Hakon Laugsand had three shots and Tim Klefisch, Croucher and Leon had two shots each.
 
Cal State LA will return to action on Sunday with a home conference match against San Francisco State beginning at 11:30 a.m.