AZUSA, Calif. -- Freshman midfielder Gabriel Costa scored in the sixth minute of overtime to lift No. 2-seeded host Azusa Pacific to a 2-1 victory over No. 3-seeded Cal State L.A. in the second round of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer National Championship West Regional.

Costa, the Pacific West Conference Player of the Year, assisted Arturo Astorga for the game's first goal in the 22nd minute, giving Azusa Pacific an early 1-0 lead. Astorga returned the favor in overtime, collecting a throw in from the right sideline and playing it across the top of the box to Costa, whose shot from 15 yards out found the back of the net to lift Azusa Pacific to its first-ever NCAA Division II postseason win.

Cal State L.A. answered Astorga's first-half goal in the 62nd minute, as David Elizaga scored unassisted on a loose ball in the box to tie the game at 1-1. Both teams generated multiple quality scoring chances throughout the game, with Azusa Pacific finishing with a 13-8 edge in total shots. Cal State L.A. held the edge in corner kicks, 5-4.

Astorga's goal was his 11th of the season, while Costa's "golden goal" was his 14th goal of the season and his team-high sixth game-winner. Brendan Fix finished with three saves behind center backs Isaac Bawa and Pablo Iles Cruz, who worked together effectively to limit the Golden Eagles' scoring chances. Cal State L.A. goalkeeper Alexander Brems finished with six saves.

Both teams had early chances in overtime, as Carlos Zarate forced Cougar goalkeeper Brendan Fix to make his third save of the game in the 93rd minute. Just thirty seconds later, Aleksander Pumpalovic shot wide of the goal at the other end.

With the victory, Azusa Pacific improves to 17-1-1 and advances to the regional championship game, which it will host against No. 5-seeded Cal Poly Pomona after the Broncos pulled off a dramatic 1-0 overtime upset of No. 1-seeded Simon Fraser Saturday night.

The victory was Azusa Pacific's first NCAA Tournament win as well as its first win in four all-time meetings against Cal State L.A., which handed the Cougars a 1-0 defeat in the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament in the programs' most recent previous meeting.

As the top remaining seed in the West Region, Azusa Pacific will host the regional championship games for the NCAA Division II West and South Central regions on Thursday, Nov. 15. The South Central regional matchup will be at 4:00 p.m. while the Cougars host Cal Poly Pomona at 7:00 p.m.  The winners will meet on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 6:00 p.m., for a spot in the Final Four on Nov. 29 in Pittsburgh.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS



POSTGAME INTERVIEWS