CARSON -- Cal State LA's men's soccer team saw its 2025 season come to a disappointing end Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The No. 7 seed Golden Eagles tied the game in the final minute of regulation, but ultimately fell short on penalty kicks, 4-2, to No. 10 University of Colorado-Colorado Springs after the game ended in a 3-3 draw in Toro Stadium. Cal State LA (8-4-7) is out of the tournament in the opening round for the first time since the Super Region format was instituted in 2019. The Golden Eagles had not been involved in a first-round game since 2018 and exited from the first round for the first time since 2017.

UCCS (11-5-5), meanwhile, advances to the second round where the Mountain Lions will face No. 2 seed and host Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Emil Kischka scored a pair of goals for the Golden Eagles, including a penalty kick goal in the final minute of regulation that sent the game into overtime. Alex Mendez also scored for the Golden Eagles, notching his fifth goal of the season.

Cal State LA jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 19 minutes on goals by Kischka and Mendez. The Golden Eagles, though, were punished for miscues that led to a free kick from just outside the box that was converted into a goal, a nifty counter-attack that led to the game-tying goal and then another mistake that resulted into a corner kick and became an own goal that gave the Mountain Lions the lead.

The game deteriorated a bit in the second half as Cal State LA pushed to equalize and UCCS fought to hold onto their lead. A total of 23 fouls were called after halftime and five yellow cards and two reds were issued. Each team was playing a man down when the second overtime period ended.

Cal State LA had a 21-13 advantage in shots, including a 15-2 edge in the second half. The Golden Eagles played for most of the two overtime periods a man down, and UCCS had a 7-0 edge in the extra time before getting its own player sent off in the 109th minute.

The Golden Eagles got off to a quick start and took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. Angel Sanchez came racing into the box, drew the goalkeeper out of position and then was fouled by a defender to draw a penalty kick. Kischka calmly knocked it in for his first goal of the season.

Mendez delivered a brilliant strike from well outside the box to make it 2-0 in the 19th minute. He took a pass from Emiliano Gutierrez and drilled a left-footed shot into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

The Golden Eagles, though, surprisingly surrendered three goals in a nine-minute span to fall behind. Diego Macias fired a shot just under the crossbar from just outside the box on a free kick to make it 2-1 and Jack Cook was on the end of a pinpoint cross to tie it at 2-2 in the 35th minute. Just four minutes later, a Golden Eagle misplay resulted in a corner kick that was inadvertently headed in a crowd for an own goal.

Cal State LA pushed valiantly to tie it in the second half and had several chances just miss. Joel Green had probably the best chance as he fired a laser that was deflected out by a diving Hugo Sjoberg in the 65th minute. Erick Alamo had a strong bid saved by Sjoberg five minutes later. Johnny Gonzalez had a shot go just over the crossbar with five minutes to go.

Cal State LA drew a red card in the 87th minute, but still was able to get the tying goal with just 39 seconds remaining. Gonzalez was fouled to draw the penalty and Kischka converted again to tie it.

Brayden McClelland was kept busy in the two overtime periods with his team playing a man down and made four saves in the extra time to end the game to penalty kicks.

Marcos Lipertis and Mendez converted on their tries, but UCCS, after missing its first attempt, made its next four to advance in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. The Mountain Lions will face No. 2 Cal State Dominguez HIlls on Sunday.