SEATTLE -- Cal State LA's Taesja Paopao turned in a performance for the ages Thursday afternoon and, as a result, the Golden Eagles are moving on in the NCAA Tournament.

The No. 3 seed Golden Eagles prevailed in a penalty kick shootout, 2-0, to advance past No. 6 seed Simon Fraser in a first-round NCAA tourney match at Seattle Pacific's Interbay Stadium. Cal State LA (9-2-9) recorded its 12th shutout of the season and Paopao, the California Collegiate Athletic Association's Goalkeeper of the Year, was simply sensational in the shootout. 

The junior transfer from UC Irvine made three consecutive spectacular saves and the Sea Leafs, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament champions, were blanked on their four attempts. After the first shooter for the Red Leafs hit the crossbar, Paopao made three straight stops to send her team to the next round. Amanda Macedo and Shelby Melin made their tries to give Cal State LA a 2-0 lead after two rounds and the shootout was over after the Red Leafs missed their fourth shot.

It was a great moment for Macedo as well, who made her first appearance since the season opener against Concordia and made it count in a big way. She was the first Cal State LA shooter and she gave her side a 1-0 lead with a brilliant attempt. When Melin, who is second on the team in scoring, made her attempt to make it 2-0, it was up to Paopao to slam the door, which is exactly what she did.

Paopao made nine saves during the scoreless regulation and two overtimes, including three in the second half and three more in the second overtime period. 

The nine saves are a season high.

Paopao's three saves in the shootout equaled a program record in an NCAA Tournament game set in 2007 by Reyna Coca in a first-round playoff game against Chico State that also ended in a 0-0 tie. Coca made three saves after an initial Chico State make in a 3-1 shootout victory. Paopao is the first goalkeeper to blank an opponent in an NCAA Tournament shootout.

Cal State LA was outshot in the game, 21-13, after both teams had nine shots in the opening half. The Golden Eagles had an 8-4 edge in corner kicks.

Liliana Gonzalez and Melin had three shots each in the game and a returning Delia Bocanegra had two shots, both off them on goal.

Cal State LA advances to the second round where the Golden Eagles will face No. 2 seed and host Seattle Pacific. The Golden Eagles will be meeting the Falcons for the first time since 2011 when they got goals from Janet Mendez and Lisa Ohberg in a 2-1 victory in a first-round NCAA Tournament match in Los Angeles. 

The Golden Eagles will face the Falcons on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a shot at the regional final on the line.