AZUSA -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team returned to a more familiar style of victory Saturday night against No. 20 Azusa Pacific.
Just three days after a wild 4-3 win at home over Biola, the defending national champions stifled the Cougars in a 3-1 victory at the Cougar Soccer Complex. Cal State LA got goals from
Jacob Chong,
Bryan Ortega and
Aidan Wait and limited the Cougars to only four shots in an impressive victory. The Golden Eagles had a 16-4 advantage in shots and took a 3-0 lead before the Cougars scored in the 79th minute to avert the shutout.
No. 1 Cal State LA extended its unbeaten streak to 23 games with the road victory.
The Golden Eagles had a 9-2 advantage in shots in the opening half and took a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute when Chong scored his second goal of the season.
Cal State LA extended the lead to 2-0 early in the second half. Ortega whipped a nice shot inside the near post for his team-leading third goal of the season in the 49th minute.
Wait made it 3-0 in the 67th minute when he got behind the Azusa Pacific defense and calmly fired the ball past Azusa Pacific goalkeeper Leo Moreno.
Alvaro Unanua made two saves for the Golden Eagles, while Moreno made six saves for the Cougars.
Ortega took a game-high five shots for the Golden Eagles, including four on goal. Chong and
Tommaso Belli had three shots each and
Carl Solli had two shots on goal.
Cal State LA will conclude the non-conference portion of its schedule next Saturday with a home game against California Collegiate Athletic Association travel partner Cal Poly Pomona at 7 p.m.