LA JOLLA -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team was hoping for a third straight California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament title, but the Golden Eagles had to settle for keeping their season-long unbeaten streak alive and making some history in the process.
The regular-season CCAA champions battled No. 2 seed Cal Poly Pomona to a 1-1 draw through two overtime periods in an exceptional title match, only to fall in penalty kicks, 5-4, on Sunday at UC San Diego's Triton Soccer Stadium. Cal State LA (16-0-2) is set to enter the NCAA playoffs with an unbeaten record for the first time in program history. Cal Poly Pomona (12-4-3), last year's regular-season champion, earns the CCAA's automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs.Â
The playoff field will be announced on Monday at 3:30 p.m. on ncaa.com.
This was the third straight year Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona met in the tournament title match with the Golden Eagles taking the previous two contests by 2-0 scores. The Golden Eagles and Broncos were meeting for the second time this year with both contests going extra time. Cal State LA took an overtime decision, 1-0, in the regular-season meeting in Pomona on Oct. 20.
Cal State LA conceded a goal with just 17 seconds remaining in the first half on a controversial penalty kick that was awarded after four players were tangled up and fell to the ground in the box. The Golden Eagles were whistled for a foul and Cal Poly Pomona's Cyro Oliveira was perfect on the penalty try to give the Broncos a 1-0 halftime lead. It was the first penalty kick given up by the Golden Eagles this season and only the seventh goal allowed.
Cal State LA tied the game in the 80th minute on a spectacular goal by
Carl Solli, who scored on a bicycle kick from point-blank range.
Manuel Garcia got the assist after sending a beautiful corner kick into the box.
Morten Bjoershol and a pair of Cal Poly Pomona defenders battled for the ball, but Solli got to it and amazingly shot the ball into the net for his fifth goal of the season. Garcia picked up his third assist of the season.
Both defenses dominated the remainder of the second half and through the two overtime periods. Cal State LA goalkeeper
Alexander Brems made a nice save on a sharp-angle shot by Cal Poly Pomona's Gabriel Castillo in the final two minutes of the second overtime period.
The game then entered into penalty kicks and the Golden Eagles were a bit unfortunate. Solli,
Jesper Evensen,
Antonio Rosas and
Carlos Zarate converted on their attempts, but the Golden Eagles' second attempt went off the crossbar and Cal Poly Pomona made all five of its tries.
Cal State LA had a 13-12 advantage in shots and a 7-4 edge in shots on goal. The Golden Eagles also had a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Brems,
Robin Lindahl and Solli were named to the All-Tournament team.
Cal State LA will now set its sights on Monday's selection show. The Golden Eagles were the No. 2 seed in the Super Region 4 in Wednesday's rankings, which, if it holds, would net them a first-round bye and a second-round match at home on Saturday.
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