LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's soccer team, riding a four-match winless streak that dropped them into a tie for fifth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, responded with one of its best games of the season on Sunday.

The Golden Eagles got a goal from Peytyn Mize early in the second half and made it stand up for an important 1-0 win over Cal State San Marcos on Sunday in University Stadium. Cal State LA (7-3-4, 4-3-1 CCAA) vaulted into a tie for second place in the conference with 13 points, two more than defending CCAA Tournament champion Cal State San Marcos (6-4-5, 3-3-2 CCAA). 

An amazing nine teams - from second place to 11th - are within four points of each other with three conference matches remaining.

Cal State LA, which snapped a three-game losing streak with a 0-0 tie on Friday with Cal State East Bay, secured three points with a well-played game on Sunday. Defender Brianna Valdez made her return to the lineup and she, along with Jaclyn Orozco and Destiny Moedano, played all 90 minutes while keeping the talented Cougars off the board.

Goalkeeper Taesja Paopao made seven saves, including a couple of excellent stops, to record her seventh shutout of the season and the 19th of her career.

The only goal of the game came courtesy of a long Presli Dillon throw-in, which was headed inside the box and just under the crossbar by Mize, who recorded the first goal of her Cal State LA career. The assist was Dillon's first of her career.

There were several long throw-ins by Dillon that soared dangerously into the Cal State San Marcos box, but most were cleared away expertly by the Cougars' outstanding - and tall - defense. In the 54th minute, though, it was Mize who got her head on the ball and directed it into the net for the only goal of the game.

Cal State San Marcos had an 11-9 advantage in shots for the game, including an 8-2 edge in the second half as the Cougars pushed to get the equalizer. Cal State LA had a 6-4 advantage in corner kicks with all six coming in the first half.

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