LOS ANGELES - For the third time in four seasons, Cal State LA is the CCAA Men's Soccer Tournament Champions. (Nov. 14)
 
The No. 1 seeded Golden Eagles seized the opportunity to claim the tournament championship in front of their home fans with three goals.
 
Carl Solli gave Cal State LA the initial lead in the 24th minute when David Elizaga found him with a cross on the far side of the goal. Solli ran on the ball and headed it in from right in front of the net.
 
This combo was also instrumental in the goal in the 58th minute as the pair each earned an assist. Following a steal at mid-field, the Golden Eagles rushed the ball into the box, and with a couple of nice passes in tight space, they were able to get Lucas Rosales an open look right in front of goal. He did not miss the chance and deposited it into the net for the 2-0 lead.
 
Four minutes later, Cal State LA would add another goal when Jose Orellana beat his defender down the sideline and centered it to his teammate Lucas Rosales for the score.
 
 Cal Poly Pomona's Jerry Ramirez ended the clean sheet in the 85th minute with his 10th goal of the season, but that was not their only good look of the match.
 
The Broncos possessed the ball in the Golden Eagles side of the field for most of the first 20 minutes. They had multiple looks on goal as Ateno Ajeakwa continued to set up opportunities for his teammates. However, it seemed every good look they had was matched by an outstanding play by the 2021 CCAA Goalkeeper of the Year, Alvaro Unanua.
 
Unanua made multiple stops from close range using both his arms and his legs. He ended the match with seven saves and was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the tournament.
 
The momentum did not shift to the Golden Eagles until the goal, which occurred immediately after the hydration break when Elizaga and Solli connected on the goal. Elizaga earned Most Valuable Offensive Player in the tournament after putting up a goal and three assists.  
 
"These young men have done a great job coming together and competing for one another," said Cal State LA's head coach Chris Chamides. "We had not been together the previous year and a half, so we had to build this back up from the basement. To get this far is something that the staff is pleased about, but the players should be celebrating so much for what they have accomplished this year because we had to start over. For the guys to stick with it, and believe in the process, and now get rewarded for it; that is very satisfying."
 
Six different student-athletes scored goals, and five had assists in the CCAA Tournament for Cal State LA.
 
"When you start counting the wins and the championships, it is a good feeling," added senior forward Jorge Orellana.
 
Cal State LA (14-2-2) earned the CCAA's automatic qualifying bid and will be in the Super-Region 4, coming up next weekend. The Golden Eagles were No. 1 in the regional rankings released last week and have a chance to host the Super-Regional.
 
Cal Poly Pomona (12-4-3) is also expected to be in the regional after being No. 5 in last week's rankings. The NCAA Division II Men's Soccer brackets will be revealed on Monday, Nov. 15 at 3:30 p.m. on NCAA.com. 
 

Jeronimo Valdepena, Cal State San Bernardino

Josue Cartegena, Cal State Dominguez Hills

Ateno Ajeakwa, Cal Poly Pomona

Kevin Hernandez, Cal Poly Pomona

Fin Jackson, Cal Poly Pomona

Morten Bjoershol, Cal State LA

Carl Solli, Cal State LA

Gonzalo Talavera, Cal State LA

Carl Olsen, Cal State LA

Most Valuable Defensive Player - Alvaro Unanua, Cal State LA

Most Valuable Offensive Player - David Elizaga, Cal State LA