LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team picked up a huge California Collegiate Athletic Association victory Thursday night and took a big step toward a possible conference championship.

The Golden Eagles were explosive on offense and turned back Cal Poly Pomona, 4-0, in a conference showdown at University Stadium. Cal State LA (12-2-2, 9-1-1 CCAA, 28 points) took over first place in the conference by one point over Cal Poly Pomona (11-5, 9-2 CCAA, 27 points). The Golden Eagles also clinched a first-round bye in the conference tournament and will go straight to the semi-finals at UC San Diego next Friday.

The only question remaining is whether they'll go as a second-place finisher or a conference champion.

The Golden Eagles took control of the game with a dramatic two-goal flurry in the opening half and doubled their lead with another two-goal blitz early in the second period. The defense was stout and the Golden Eagles picked up their 11th shutout of the season.

Robin Lindahl scored a pair of goals and now shares the CCAA lead with 10. He also had an assist on Cal State LA's final goal.

Daniel Simonis scored Cal State LA's first goal and Leonardo Nogueira had the final score. Nogueira also had an assist.

The first goal of the game came in the 16th minute  after a brilliant rush from defender Antonio Rosas, who split the Cal Poly Pomona defense and carried the ball all the way into the box. He then sent a perfect pass to Simonis, who fired a beautiful shot just inside the far post for his sixth goal of the season.

Lindahl made it 2-0 about two minutes later after being set up in front of the goal after a exceptional passing sequence from David Elizaga to Nogueira. Lindahl got to the ball just before Cal Poly Pomona goalkeeper Jakob Hansen and knocked the ball into the net.

Cal State LA took a 3-0 lead in the 48th minute when Lindahl got his second goal of the game. Simonis made a strong run down the left side and centered the ball to Lindahl, who just beat Hansen to the ball and chipped it over him into an empty net.

Nogueira completed the scoring in the 56th minute. After a scrum in the box, Lindahl was able to tap the ball back to Nogueira, who fired a picturesque shot to the far post for his eighth goal of the season.

Alexander Brems made five saves in goal for the Golden Eagles, who snapped Cal Poly Pomona's nine-match winning streak that had carried the Broncos into first place entering Thursday's match.

Cal State LA will conclude the regular season on Saturday with a home match against Cal State San Bernardino at 2 p.m. The Golden Eagles will honor five seniors in pre-match ceremonies.