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Cal State LA is headed back to the CCAA Men's Soccer Championship match for the fifth consecutive season with a 2-1 win over Sonoma State.
The No. 2 seeded Golden Eagles scored the opening goal of the match in the 10th minute when Bryan Ortega dribbled around multiple defenders in the box and sent a perfect pass to Manuel Garcia right in from of the goal. Garcia poked the assist in for his second goal of the season.
Sonoma State found the equalizer on a set piece in the 30th minute. The free kick from midfield went into the center of the 18-yard box, and Federico Barbiera headed it back to an onrushing Oliver Ziemer for the tying goal.
It was Alex Rodriguez that broke the tie in the 58th minute when another well-timed pass set up the go-ahead goal. The Golden Eagles pushed forward after a long pass from their end of the field, setting up a 3v3 situation. Two defenders went toward Jeppe Paulsen with the ball on the left side, but he beat the double team with a floating pass to Rodriguez. He collected the ball and had only the goalie to beat. The Seawolves' goalkeeper Reinier ter Riet made 12 saves in the opening round and already eight on the day, but he could not get a hand on this one, and the Golden Eagles took a 2-1 lead.
Fortune did not strike twice for Sonoma State as both of their shots on goal in the final 32 minutes were stopped by CCAA Goalkeeper of the Year Alvaro Unanua.
Cal State LA will face the No. 1 seed Cal State Dominguez Hills in the CCAA Men's Soccer Tournament finals on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. It will be a top 10 national matchup as the Toros come in ranked No. 3, and the Golden Eagles stand at No. 8.