LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team, the defending California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament Champions, officially earned their right to defend their title in a couple of weeks.

The Golden Eagles edged Stanislaus State, 3-2, in a bit of a nervy match on Senior Day and clinched a spot in the CCAA Tournament for a 12th consecutive season. Cal State LA has won two straight and three of the past four conference tournaments.

Of course, the Golden Eagles are seeking a bigger prize - the CCAA regular-season championship and they took another step toward that goal on Sunday. Cal State LA (12-1-1, 7-1 CCAA) won its sixth straight match and has 21 points. The Golden Eagles lead second-place Cal Poly Pomona by four points and third-place Cal State Monterey Bay by five points with three conference matches remaining.

Cal State LA saw its five-match shutout streak come to an end in an entertaining back-and-forth with Stanislaus State (3-9-3, 0-5-3 CCAA) on Sunday, Cal State LA had only allowed four goals all season before the Warriors struck for a goal in each half and remained dangerous right to the end.

Bryan Ortega had a pair of goals for the Golden Eagles - and he just missed a third late in the game - while Aidan Wait had the other.

Julian Madrigal and Edgar Castaneda had goals for the Warriors.

Cal State LA had a 13-11 edge in shots, while Stanislaus State had a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks, earning all six in the second half. Sebastian Castellanos made four saves for the Warriors, while Julian Aadlandsvik made two saves for the Golden Eagles.

One of Castellanos' saves came against his twin brother, Cal State LA's Eduardo Castellanos, in the second half.

Ortega opened the scoring just 4:02 into the game when Simon Johansen sent a beautiful pass to an onrushing Ortega, who fired quickly to the far post from inside the box. 

The Warriors, though, tied it in the 18th minute on a free kick by Julian Madrigal, who fired a lazer from just outside the box for his first goal of the season.

Aidan Wait gave the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead in the 34th minute when he stole a pass and shot into an empty net for his fourth goal of the season.

Stanislaus State, though, made an impressive push to start the second half and tied it in the 51st minute. Castaneda dribbled into the box and scored from close-range for his fourth goal of the season.

Ortega, though, got what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the 59th minute. Jeppe Paulsen sent a spectacular cross into the box, where Wait headed it toward goal. Castellanos made a remarkable diving save, but Ortega got to the rebound and quickly knocked it in for his team-leading seventh goal of the season. 

Before the game, the Golden Eagles honored 13 seniors and graduate students -- Atonal Torres, Julian Aadlandsvik, Emil Antonacci, Steve Perez, Andrew Portis, Neophytos Scottis, Jeppe Paulsen, Simon Johansen, Aidan Wait, Eduardo Castellanos, Carl Solli, Oliver Diaz and Bryan Ortega.

Cal State LA will return to action next Friday with a road game at Sonoma State.