ARCATA -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team put the finishing touches on a remarkable conference season by wrapping up the 2019 California Collegiate Athletic Association championship with another clutch win on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles became the first men's soccer team since 2007 to complete a CCAA regular-season with an unbeaten record after beating Humboldt State, 2-1, at College Creek Field. No. 3 Cal State LA (15-0-1, 10-0-1 CCAA) remains unbeaten on the season and will enter its semifinal match in the CCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed. The conference tournament semifinals and finals will be held at UC San Diego on Friday and Sunday.
This is the third year in a row Cal State LA has won some kind of a conference title. In 2017 and 2018, the Golden Eagles won tournament titles.
This year, the Golden Eagles claimed the seventh CCAA regular-season title in program history and the third under legendary coach
Chris Chamides. Since Chamides took over the program, the Golden Eagles have won three regular-season CCAA championships (2011, 2013, 2019), four CCAA Tournament titles (2011, 2013, 2017, 2018) and two NCAA West Region titles (2011, 2014), all in the past eight years.
Cal State LA's 10-0-1 conference record this year (.955) is the best in program history, eclipsing the 1983 squad that went 12-0-2 for a .928 percentage.
David Elizaga and
Morten Bjoershol scored goals for the Golden Eagles, who enjoyed a 26-11 advantage in shots. Cal State LA also had a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Leonardo Nogueira and
Carl Solli had four shots each the Golden Eagles, who also fired a pair of shots off the post in the second half while trying to build on their 2-1 advantage. Nogueira and
Robin Lindahl both had bids hit the post and stay out.
Alexander Brems made three saves in goal for the Golden Eagles.
Elizaga opened the scoring in the 21st minute with his team-leading seventh goal of the season. He took a cross from
Daniel Simonis and buried the shot to the far post to give the Golden Eagles the lead.
Cal State LA had its five-match shutout streak snapped just two minutes later when Isaiah Dairo got on the board for Humboldt State (8-9, 4-8 CCAA) with an assist from Israel Gonzalez.
The Golden Eagles, though, reclaimed the lead in the 36th minute when Bjoershol scored his second goal of the season on a header with an assist from
Manuel Garcia.
Cal State LA's defense took it from there and held the 'Jacks without a shot on goal in the second half.
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