LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team took full advantage of its first home match in NCAA Division II Tournament play since 2013.
The Golden Eagles got some early momentum with a big save from goalkeeper
Alexander Brems and struck for two quick first-half goals from
Daniel Simonis in an impressive 3-0 win over Midwestern State Saturday night in a second-round Super Region 4 game at University Stadium. Cal State LA (17-0-2) remains unbeaten and now advances to the semifinals of the Super Region 4 where the No. 2 Golden Eagles will face No. 3 St. Mary's of Texas. In the other semifinal, No. 4 Cal State San Bernardino will face No. 8 Colorado School of Mines, which upset No. 1 Azusa Pacific on Saturday and handed the Cougars their first loss of the season.
As the highest seed remaining in Super Region 4, Cal State LA is on track to host the semifinals and finals pending the NCAA's official announcement. Game dates are expected to be Dec. 5 and 7.
The three goals scored by the Golden Eagles were their most in an NCAA Tournament game since 2011 when they edged Seattle Pacific, 3-2, on their way to an NCAA West Region title. The Golden Eagles also advanced past the second round of the tourney for the first time since 2014 when they also claimed a West Region title. The win was also the first home victory for Cal State LA in the NCAA Tournament since a 5-3 win over Cal State San Bernardino in 2009.
Cal State LA recorded its 13th shutout of the season with a spectacular display of defense on Saturday. The Golden Eagles allowed only three shots on goal to a potent Midwestern State squad that carried a five-match winning streak into Saturday, including a 1-0 win over UC San Diego in the first round on Thursday.
Brems set the tone early with a tremendous save on a penalty kick attempt by Dylan Burke in the eighth minute. Brems not only made an outstanding save, but he gathered the ball before a rebound could be available.
The save seemed to spark the Golden Eagles, who began to get their legs under them and create some pressure. Just five minutes after Brems' big stop, Simonis scored his first goal of the game. The score was set up by
David Elizaga, who carried the ball into the box down the right side and fired a shot that Midwestern State goalkeeper Taylor Lampe made a diving save to keep out of the goal. The ball, though, bounced out and Simonis got to it first and rifled a shot under the crossbar for his fourth goal of the season.
Less than a minute later, Simonis drilled a free kick inside the near post and under the crossbar to make it 2-0.
Cal State LA made it 3-0 in the 55th minute on a goal by
Robin Lindahl.
Jorge Orellana made a strong run down the left side and centered it to Lindahl, who gathered it among a pair of defenders and shot it inside the far post for his sixth goal of the season.
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