Cal State LA Falls 2-0 in National Championship Game
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PITTSBURGH - On a blustery day in the Steel City, Cal State LA fell 2-0 to Charleston (WV) in the title match of the 2019 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship on Saturday evening.
The national semifinals and final were held at Highmark Stadium, home of Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC of the United Soccer League, for the second year in a row, co-hosted by Slippery Rock University and SportsPITTSBURGH.
It was a battle both of Golden Eagles, and of the top two defenses statistically in Division II, with Charleston boasting a team goals-against average of .330 coming in, and Cal State LA right behind at .349.
No. 1 seeded Cal State LA was in search of its first national title, playing in the final match of the season once before - 38 years ago.
For eventual champion and No. 2 seed Charleston, the title is its second in the last three seasons, also claiming the victory in 2017 after defeating Lynn for the trophy. In that run to the championship Charleston eliminated CCAA squad Cal Poly Pomona in the national semifinals. Recent mainstays in the championship finale, the Golden Eagles were runners-up in 2014 and ’16.
The CCAA can boast five prior national champions in men’s soccer, with Cal State Dominguez Hills the most recent in 2008. The Golden Eagles were the league’s first finalist since Cal Poly Pomona fell to Pfeiffer in 2015 in Pensacola, Fla., but the conference will have to wait to notch title No. 6.
| National Championship: No. 2 Charleston (WV) 2, No. 1 Cal State LA 0 |
Box Score
For Cal State LA, their first loss of the season came in its last appearance on the pitch in 2019. Entering the national championship match without a blemish, the Golden Eagles not only saw a 22-match unbeaten streak come to an end, but also suffered their first shutout of the year as Charleston earned their second title in three years, and fourth appearance in the season’s final match in the last six years.
Charleston came out aggressive on the attack, with the first opportunity of the night coming five minutes into the action as freshman Marcel Kaspar’s left-footed attempt sailed over the goal. But just four minutes later, the West Virginia Golden Eagles found their mark.
In a battle of defensive prowess, both sides had only surrendered eight goals on the year. However, it was ironically a defensive miscue for one of the most stalwart back lines in the nation that led to the game’s opening goal for Charlston.
Christos Charalambous volleyed long down the field of play as unanimous first-team All-American and CCAA Goalkeeper of the Year senior Alexander Brems moved to the top corner of the box. Cal State LA defender Tony Rosas attempted to shield Charleston’s Freddy Tracey, but instead Tracey was able to get posession and squeeze past Brems. Tracey knocked in the touch for an uncontested goal nine minutes and 14 seconds into the contest. The tactical error resulted in the lone goal of the half as Charleston held an 8-1 shots advantage after the first period.
Playing from behind for the sixth time of the season, the Golden Eagles came up with three victories and two one-all draws in its previous five comeback bids in 2019. Cal State LA came out of halftime pushing the pace and looking to square the match.
Early in the second, Cal State LA’s Tim Klefisch took a lofted free kick that was booted out of danger to keep the one-goal lead in place. With 33 minutes remaining, All-Tournament team selection and Cal State LA freshman Carl Solli found Morten Bjoershol for the attempt. Despite a bobble of the ball for Charleston’s Alvaro Unanua Dean, the keeper was able to reel in the shot before Solli could try for the rebound opportunity.
Cal State LA almost benefitted from a nearly identical misplay that resulted in the early score at the 60:20 mark before Dean collected the ball to avert the equalizer.
With 16 minutes remaining, Tracey tacked on an insurance goal for Charleston while recording a brace in the title match. Jesus Cabanas flicked on and Tracey’s strike found the back corner as he lived up to his “Front-post Freddy” moniker. It was the fourth multi-goal game of the season for the senior from Sheffield, England.
Bjoershol nearly found a response to put Cal State LA on the board at the 74:34 mark, but the deflection was saved by Dean. The Golden Eagles came up empty in their late offensive flurry as Charleston’s defense held firm to keep the clean sheet intact. The shutout for West Virginia side was its 17th of the season and fifth in six postseason games for the MEC champions. Dean closed out his collegiate career with six saves in the title match, as Charleston’s offense ran its scoring differential to 87-8 on the year.
Saturday marked the first-ever meeting between Cal State LA and Charleston.
Cal State LA was playing in just its second final, having lost 1-0 in overtime to Tampa in 1981. Charleston was playing in its fourth final, all coming over the past six years. UC lost in 2014 and 2016 before winning its first national title in 2017. The Charleson’s come-from-behind 3-1 semifinal victory over Lynn on Thursday marked a rematch of that 2017 final, when the sides played to a 0-0 draw before Charleston procured a 3-1 advantage during the penalty-kick tiebreaker.
For Cal State LA, the Golden Eagles will keep hungrily knocking on the door, now with a runner-up finish under their belt. Cal State LA has compiled a .500 record in 14 NCAA Championship appearances, and the CCAA has now seen a side reach the championship final site for the fifth-straight year with two runner-up finishes (2019 - Cal State LA; 2015 - Cal Poly Pomona).