LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team, after posting a 2-1 win over Colorado State Pueblo on Saturday in a second-round NCAA playoff match, will serve as the host for the next two rounds that will determine the Super Region 4 champion.
The Golden Eagles (15-2-2), who earned the No. 1 seed for Super Region 4, will host No. 4 seed Colorado Mesa (16-3-2) on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. in the second of two third-round games at University Stadium. In the first game, No. 7 Cal Poly Pomona 14-4-3) will face No. 6 West Texas A&M (14-4) at 3 p.m. The winners will meet on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. for the Super Region 4 championship and a spot in the national semi-finals.
This marks the second straight season the Golden Eagles have hosted two weeks of NCAA playoff matches. In 2019, Cal State LA beat Midwestern State in a second-round match and, as the No. 2 seed, hosted the second week as well. The Golden Eagles advanced on penalty kicks against St. Mary's (Texas) before beating Cal State San Bernardino, 2-0, to claim the Super Region 4 title.
The 2020 playoffs were canceled due to COVID-19.
Cal State LA will enter next Thursday's game riding a 14-game unbeaten streak that includes California Collegiate Athletic Association regular-season and tournament titles as well as Saturday's win over Colorado-State Pueblo.
Colorado Mesa enters next Thursday's game following a penalty-kick advancement past No. 5 seed Colorado School of Mines. The two teams tied 0-0 through regulation and two overtime periods. Colorado Mesa is No. 2 in the country with a 0.55 goals against average, just ahead of Cal State LA, which is No. 3 in the nation with a 0.66 goals against average. The Mavericks are fourth in the country with 12 shutouts, while Cal State LAÂ is tied for fifth with 10.
West Texas A&M enters the third round after an exciting 3-2 win over No. 3 seed Azusa Pacific Saturday in Azusa. The Buffaloes are making their seventh NCAA tournament appearance and were the 2018 South Central Region champions.
Cal Poly Pomona is adding to its impressive NCAA resume after posting a pair of wins at Midwestern State to reach the third round. The Broncos (14-4-3) beat Biola, 5-0, in a first-round game before knocking off host and No. 2 seed Midwestern State in a second-round match on Sunday, 1-0. Cal Poly Pomona reached the national championship game in 2015.
This marks the second straight season that the CCAAÂ has two teams in the Super Region 4 third round. In 2019, Cal State LA and Cal State San Bernardino were in the field and ultimately met in the Super Region 4 title game.
The four teams competing in next week's playoffs are all among the nation's best and all four are ranked in the national top-20 in the final regular-season United Soccer Coaches poll. Cal State LA is No. 6, Colorado Mesa is No. 11, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 16 and West Texas A&M is No., 17.
Tickets for next week's tournament games will be sold at the gate and sales will be cash-only. Prices are $10 for general admission and $5 for students with I.D., children under 12 and seniors. Fans are asked to wear face masks and no eating or drinking will be permitted in the stadium.
The game will also be live-streamed on the Cal State LA Athletics website with Michael Nemetz on the call. There will be live stats as well.
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