Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif. (Nov. 2) ­ Although it scored early, the Seattle Pacific University men's soccer team was unable hold the lead and was eliminated by Cal State L.A., 2-1 in the first round of the NCAA Division II tournament Thursday night at Toro Stadium.

The Golden Eagles (13-8-1) got first-half goals from Morten Marthinsen and Aza Gomez and advanced to Saturday night's Far West Regional championship game. They will face the winner of Cal State Dominguez Hills-Seattle University.

It was only the second time that the 17th-ranked Falcons (12-7-0) had failed to win after scoring first. Just 98 seconds into the match, defender David Reuhl (Sr., Bothell, Wa./Bothell) unleashed a long-range blast which caromed off a CSLA player and into the net. It was Reuhl's first goal.

Cal State L.A. responded with strong pressure on the SPU backs and equalized in the 33rd minute when Marthinsen broke through 1-on-1, cracking a 12-yard shot off keeper Kellen Rosten.

Less than two minutes before halftime, Gomez pounced on a weak defensive clearance. He volleyed the ball off the heel of a Seattle Pacific defender, the shot redirecting past Rosten.

The Falcons out-shot CSLA 9-6 in the second half, including a drive by Drew Macha which beat goalie Patrick Fry but was cleared off the line by a defender in the 81st minute.

"As has been the case the past few weeks, we created several great opportunities that we just didn't put away," said coach Cliff McCrath. "Since (the car accident in) Phoenix we been in a kind of fog."

After winning seven straight games prior to arriving in Phoenix, Seattle Pacific five of its final seven games.

CSLA finished with a 19-15 advantage in shots and a 7-6 edge in corner kicks.

Scoring--1, SPU, Reuhl (unassisted) 1:38; 2, CSLA, Marthinsen (unassisted) 32:26; 3, CSLA, Gomez (unassisted) 43:22.

Shots--CSLA 19, SPU 15.

Saves--CSLA (Fry) 4, SPU (Rosten) 3.

Corner kicks--CSLA 7, SPU 6.

Fouls--CSLA 8, SPU 4.

Offside--CSLA 3, SPU 3.

Cautions--none.