LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's unbeaten men's soccer team turned in another spectacular performance Saturday night to win a Super Region 4 championship and a spot in next week's NCAA Division II Final Four.
The Golden Eagles scored a pair of first-half goals and their outstanding defense made it stand up in a 2-0 victory over Cal State San Bernardino in front of an enthusiastic crowd at University Stadium. Cal State LA (18-0-3), the lone unbeaten team remaining in the nation, advances to its first national semifinal since 1981. The championship fields are much larger these days and the Golden Eagles become the first team in program history to advance through four rounds in the NCAA playoffs.
Three of the teams are already decided -- Super Region champions Lynn, Charleston (W.V,) and Cal State LA -- while the remaining spot will be taken by the winner of the Maryville (MD)-Indy match on Sunday. The tournament will then be seeded and semifinal pairings set. Semifinal games will be played on Thursday at Pittsburgh's Highmark Stadium.
Cal State LA, which also claimed West Region titles in 2011 and 2014, won Saturday's Super Region championship game with a script that has been followed all season long. An explosive offense struck twice in the first half and one of the nation's top defenses made it stand up. Cal State LA posted its 14th shutout of the season and has allowed only eight goals in its 21 games. The Golden Eagles' goals against average is second in the nation behind only Charleston.
Cal State LA ended the game with a 16-14 edge in shots, while the Coyotes had an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Tim Klefisch opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a left-footed blast from outside the box.
Daniel Simonis started the scoring sequence with a pass to
Carl Solli, who deftly got the ball to Klefisch, who notched his seventh goal of the season.
Robin Lindahl gave the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead in the 28th minute on a goal by
Robin Lindahl. Solli was involved once again, getting a pass from
David Elizaga and setting up Lindahl for his seventh goal of the season. Lindahl fired in a beautiful shot from an angle to the far post.
The Coyotes (14-4-3) generated some pressure in the second half, but Cal State LA's defense didn't yield.
Morten Bjoershol,
Antonio Rosas,
Jose Orellana and
Jorge Orellana played the full 90 minutes and spearheaded a defense that didn't allow the Coyotes many quality chances.
Alexander Brems, who made penalty kick saves in each of the Golden Eagles' past two wins, made seven saves in this one and aggressively cleared other dangerous crosses out of danger.
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