SAN DIEGO -- Cal State LA's women's soccer team first battled through Labor Day traffic on Saturday just to get to San Diego and they returned home after a well-played draw against one of the PacWest Conference's perennial powers.

The Golden Eagles erased one-goal deficits twice on Saturday and battled to a 2-2 draw with Point Loma in a battle between nationally-ranked opponents at the PLNU Soccer Field. No. 24 Cal State LA (1-0-1) earned its second straight result against a nationally-ranked opponent by tying No. 18 Point Loma (0-0-1). Earlier in the week, the Golden Eagles topped No. 17 Concordia, 1-0.

The Golden Eagles got a big game from defensive star Thaiz Hernandez, who delivered all of the offense on Saturday. First, with Cal State LA trailing 1-0, newcomer Delia Bocanegra was fouled in the box while weaving her way through Point Loma defenders. Hernandez knocked in the ensuing penalty kick to knot things up.

In the second half, with the Golden Eagles trailing 2-1, Miranda Navarro was fouled, drawing a free kick and Hernandez, from great distance, lofted a perfectly-placed ball that soared just over Point Loma goalkeeper Julia Pinnell and struck the bottom of the back bar in the net.

The Golden Eagles did a commendable job of containing the powerful Point Loma offense the rest of the way to earn the draw. Cal State LA snapped a three-game losing streak to the Sea Lions with the tie.

Taesja Paopao made three saves in goal for the Golden Eagles, while Pinnell was not credited with a save for the Sea Lions. 

Point Loma had a 10-6 advantage in shots, while each team had a pair of corner kicks.

Point Loma took a 1-0 lead early in the contest on an own goal just eight minutes in. Cal State LA, though, responded well and tied it up on the Hernandez penalty kick in the 33rd minute.

The Sea Lions took a 2-1 lead in the 52nd minute on a rebound goal by Nikki Ross. Paopao made a tremendous save on a shot by Bethany Arabe, but Ross was able to get to the rebound just ahead of a Cal State LA defender and drove it into the net for a go-ahead score.

That score held up until Hernandez struck again with her dramatic free kick in the 65th minute that sailed in from about 30 yards out.

It was the first two-goal game for Hernandez in her Cal State LA career. The junior defender earned third-team All-West Region honors last season and All-CCAA honorable mention. She had three goals last season and now has five goals in her Cal State LA career.

She also had the assist on Bocanegra's game-winning goal against Concordia on Thursday in Irvine.

Cal State LA will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 9, at defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Western Washington at noon.