LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's soccer team needed a boost late in a scoreless tie in a California Collegiate Athletic Association match against Cal State Monterey Bay and Leslie Ramirez provided it for the Golden Eagles.

Ramirez drilled in a shot from about 30 yards away on a free kick to lift the Golden Eagles to a much-needed 1-0 win over the Otters Saturday at University Stadium. Cal State LA (7-3-2, 4-2-2 CCAA) was coming off a 0-0 tie with Cal State East Bay and desperately needed the three points that came with the victory on Saturday. The Golden Eagles are currently third in the CCAA with 14 points, but several programs are right behind and have more conference games remaining than Cal State LA. The top six teams will advance to the conference tournament.

The Golden Eagles recorded their second straight shutout and their sixth of the season. Cal State Monterey Bay (5-5-1, 2-4 CCAA) was 3-0-1 over its last four games with four shutouts entering Saturday's game.

Cal State LA had a 14-11 advantage in shots for the game, but Cal State Monterey Bay found its footing after a shaky start that saw the Golden Eagles with 10 of the game's first 11 shots. Cal State LA also had a 7-4 edge in corner kicks, including a 5-2 advantage in the first half.

Cal State LA goalkeeper Adriana Maldonado made six saves and defender Adyson Willett also did her part in the shutout by clearing away a ball that seemed headed into the goal. Cal State Monterey goalkeeper Stephanie Busch made four saves.

There were several close calls in the first half, including a beautiful curving shot by Paulina Chaidez in the 11th minute that hit the far post. Busch made a diving save to thwart a strong attempt by Ashtyn Bracamonte in the 20th minute and Madison Mader had a shot in the box sail just wide in the 21st minute.

Cal State Monterey Bay's Maya Richardson fired a shot in a crowd in front of the goal and Willett was able to direct the ball over the crossbar and out of play in the 43rd minute and the Jasmine Safarians had a shot off the corner kick blocked and then cleared away.

Kimberly Surio had a good bid off a cross from Chaidez in the 74th minute sail high before Maldonado made her best save of the match, leaping to deflect a long-range shot from Madison Aguirre just over the crossbar.

The winning sequence was set up by Bracamonte, who was fouled after a strong run about 30 yards from the goal. Ramirez hit a perfectly-placed shot that sailed just under the crossbar and just inside the far post for her second goal of the season.

Cal State LA did a masterful job holding the lead from there, controlling the ball for the majority of the waning minutes of the match.

The Golden Eagles will return to action next Saturday in a non-conference game at Cal State Dominguez Hills.