LOS ANGELES -- It was gut-check time for Cal State LA's men's soccer team on Sunday and the No. 3 Golden Eagles responded nicely.

Still stinging from allowing two late goals in a 3-3 tie on Friday against Cal State East Bay on Friday, the Golden Eagles gave up a goal in the 16th minute on Sunday to Cal State San Marcos and trailed for most of the first half. A big game-tying goal before halftime from Matteo Costa and a go-ahead goal from Marlon Radel righted the ship and the Golden Eagles went on to an important 2-1 win in University Stadium.

Cal State LA (9-0-5, 4-0-4 CCAA) kept pace with Cal State Dominguez Hills for first place in the CCAA with 16 points, one clear of third-place Chico State and two clear of fourth-place Cal State Monterey Bay. Cal State San Marcos (4-6-5, 0-6-2 CCAA) gave the Golden Eagles all they could handle on Sunday in a well-played effort.

The Golden Eagles extended their unbeaten streak to 28 games dating back to last season while snapping a three-game winless streak - all ties - in the process.

Cal State LA was tested on Sunday by a determined Cal State San Marcos team. The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute on a blast from Ryan Meinardus, whose shot from well outside box sailed into the upper corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season.

The Cougars did a solid job of frustrating Cal State LA's offense for most of the first half, cutting off passing lanes and clearing away dangerous crosses. That changed dramatically in the final minute of the first half thanks to a brilliant effort from Matteo Costa. He ran down an attempted clearance, dribbled back into a dangerous area outside the box and shot to the far post for his second goal of the season.

It was his first goal since scoring Cal State LA's first goal of the season on Sept. 5 at Fresno Pacific and it got the Golden Eagles even heading into halftime.

Costa was also involved on the go-ahead score in the fifth minute of the second half. Costa sent a free kick into the box, where Radel headed it home for his second goal of the season and second in as many games. The assist was Costa's first of the season.

The Golden Eagles had much more success in the second half controlling the ball and Cal State San Marcos managed only two shots in the final 45 minutes.

Cal State LA had a 16-10 advantage in shots for the game and each team had two corner kicks. The Cougars got both of theirs in the first half, while the Golden Eagles got theirs in the second half.

Ricardo Cabrera, in his first start of the season in goal for the Golden Eagles, made three saves, while Cal State San Marcos goalkeeper Tony Flores made four saves for the Cougars.

Oscar Warne had a team-high four shots for the Golden Eagles, while Emil Kischka had three shots, including a pair of outstanding scoring bids in the second half.

Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with a road game at San Francisco State.