MERCED -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team had to dig deep on Friday to win its California Collegiate Athletic Association opener.

The No. 21 Golden Eagles struck for a pair of second-half goals to erase a 1-0 deficit and went on to a 2-1 win over conference newcomer UC Merced at Bobcat Field. Cal State LA (4-0-4, 1-0 CCAA) remains unbeaten on the season.

Andreas Christou and Alex Mendez scored in a three-minute span in the second half to lift the Golden Eagles to victory.

Christou converted a penalty kick in the 70th minute for his second goal of the season to tie the game. Mendez then knocked in a free kick to give the Golden Eagles the lead in the 73rd minute. The goal was the first of the season for Mendez.

Brayden McClelland made a season-high six saves for the Golden Eagles in goal.

UC Merced (1-3-2, 0-1 CCAA) had a 13-12 advantage in shots and a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.

The Bobcats got on the board first with a goal from Thomas Knierieme in the 31st minute and they held in the lead into the second half. 

The Golden Eagles were finally able to break through in the 70th minute when Christou made the Golden Eagles' first penalty kick of the season. Cal State LA was 0-1 entering the game in penalty tries.

Mendez then gave the Golden Eagles the lead in the 73rd minute and the defensive took it from there to preserve the lead.

Mendez and Jose Lopez had two shots each for the Golden Eagles, while Angel Sevillano, Felix Alverdale, Erick Alamo, Hunter Devlin, Joel Green, Geovanni Antuna, Evan Yoell and Christou had one shot each.

Cal State LA will return to action in the FloCollege/CCAA Game of the Week at Stanislaus State on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.