SAN MARCOS -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team got another stout defensive effort on Sunday and picked up an important California Collegiate Athletic Association victory over Cal State San Marcos.

Oliver Diaz knocked in a first-half free kick from Steven Perez and made it stand up in a 1-0 win over the Cougars in The Cage. Cal State LA (8-1-1, 3-1 CCAA), ranked 19th in the nation, recorded its third conference shutout in four games and its seventh shutout in 10 games this season. The Golden Eagles are tied for second in the conference with Cal State Monterey, one point behind first-place Cal Poly Pomona, after two weeks of conference play. Cal State San Marcos (5-4-2, 2-1-1 CCAA) is tied for fifth.

The only goal of the game came after a foul near midfield in the 37th minute. Perez hammered a ball deep into the Cal State San Marcos box and Diaz was first to it about four yards out and he directed the ball into the net for the game-winner.

It was the second goal of the season for Diaz, the CCAA Newcomer of the Year in 2022, and the eighth in his Cal State LA career. Perez, who has started all 10 games for the Golden Eagles this season.

Cal State LA only took four shots in the game and was outshot by the Cougars, 13-4. Cal State San Marcos also had a 6-0 edge in corner kicks, five of them in the second half. All seven shots by the Cougars in the second half were off target.

Julian Aadlandsvik made five saves in goal for the Golden Eagles, all in the first half. 

Diaz, Emil Antonacci, Oscar Warne and Carson Nguyen had the Cal State LA shots. 

Cal State LA will return to action on Thursday with a road game at Cal Poly Pomona.