ARCATA, Calif. – The fifth-seeded Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team (7-8-5) saw its 2023 season come to an end with a 2-0 loss to No. 4 and top-seeded Cal State LA (16-1-1) in the semifinals of the CCAA Tournament on Friday at College Creek Field on the campus of Cal Poly Humboldt.
 
GOALS
LA – 8' Bryan Ortega (Unassisted)
LA – 65' Carson Nguyen (Assisted by Simon Johansen)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the eighth minute of play, Ortega took a shot from the top of the box into the top left corner of the goal to give LA an early 1-0 lead.
• After 45 minutes, LA led in shots at 10-4 and shots on goal at 3-2. Aaron Alvarez led the Cougars with two shots.
• In the 65th minute of action, the Golden Eagles took a two-goal lead. From the right side of the box, Nguyen made a pass to just in front of the keeper to Johansen, who put the ball into the top middle portion of the goal from six yards out.
• CSUSM outshot LA by a 10-4 margin in the second half and had two corner kicks to the Golden Eagles' one.

 
QUICK KICKS

• The Cougars and Golden Eagles each took 14 shots for the game while CSUSM had more corner kicks at 3-1.
• Alvarez and Nomar Ibarra each had a team-leading three shots.
• Jesus Mentado had a game-high four saves.
• CSUSM controlled the ball for 51% of the game while spending 59% of its possessions in LA territory.
• This was CSUSM's first-ever CCAA Tournament and semifinal since becoming eligible for postseason play in 2017 following its transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II.
• LA was CSUSM's sixth ranked opponent of the season.