Cal State LA wins 2021 NCAA DII men's soccer national championship, first in program history

The Golden Eagles of Cal State LA are holding on for dear life in the DII men's soccer final. With 10 minutes left, they still lead 1-0 over Charleston (WV).

Charleston has had the significant portion of the possession in this second half but cannot really get anything major going in the offensive third of the pitch. Cal State LA has been rock solid in the back, and keeper Alvaro Unanua has saved all 4 shots on goal.

Watch the final minutes of the match live here on NCAA.com.

Cal State LA is one half away from a national championship. In a rematch of the 2019 national championship match, Cal State LA leads Charleston (WV) 1-0 thanks to a goal from Simon Johansen in the 21st minute.

Charleston has held the possession advantage but has yet to be able to do anything with it, recording just one shot on goal so far.

But being down at halftime is actually a bit of familiar territory for Charleston. In the semifinal against UIndy, it went down in the first half then rallied for an 84th-minute goal to equalize before eventually winning in penalties.

In the second half, we'll likely see Cal State LA play for a decisive second goal for a bit then really put the defensive clamps down to prevent Charleston from tying the match.

You can watch the second half of the match live here on NCAA.com.

Cal State Los Angeles Athletics

Do not adjust your computer. Charleston (WV) and Cal State LA are set to square off in the DII men's soccer championship match for the second time in as many tournaments. While the teams are the same, Cal State LA hopes this outcome is different after losing in 2019. 

The match between two Golden Eagles' teams will take place at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Fans can stream the match live here on NCAA.com by clicking on the game link below:

2021 DII men's soccer final

• No. 1 Cal State LA vs. No. 2 Charleston (WV) | 5 p.m. ET | Watch live

If the semifinals were any indication, the final might go the distance. Both Cal State LA and Charleston won their matches on Friday in penalty kicks, so in addition to championship game nerves, tired legs might be an X-factor, especially if extra time and penalties come back into play tomorrow evening.

Charleston has been a fixture at this point, making its fifth final appearance since 2014, having split the first four for a pair of national championships. Cal State LA could lift its first national title trophy in program history.

Click or tap here to view the full DII men's soccer bracket. For a printable version, go here.

After trailing for 84 minutes and never having a lead all night, Charleston won 5-3 in penalties over UIndy. 

Charleston was able tie it up with six minutes left thanks to a touch just outside the goal box from Alejandro Larrayoz. The Golden Eagles would hold off UIndy from scoring in both overtime periods while also getting a few chances to win it.

It eventually all came down to overtime to decide who would face Cal State LA in the 2021 DII men's soccer championship. Charleston was perfect in penalties all five players made their shot to get the job done. The Golden Eagles did bring in new keeper for penalties, Ian De Oliveira Martins. He stopped the first shot from UIndy, and that was enough to send his team to the championship match.

Charleston will face a familiar foe on Saturday, Dec. 11. The Golden Eagles met with Cal State LA to decide the 2019 title. Charleston came out on top that year winning 2-0 to earn its second DII men's soccer national championship. 

Saturday's match will begin at 5 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed live from Colorado Springs on NCAA.com.

UIndy struck first in its semifinal matchup against Charleston. In the 30', Kendall Allen was able to get the Greyhounds on the board with a great shot from a tough angle on the left side of the penalty box. 

Other than the one score, there wasn't much action for either team offensively. Both recorded one shot on goal. Charleston and UIndy both are playing a very physical game so far, each have at least six fouls in the first half of play.

⚽️ | Hounds are on the board first!

Kendall Allen nets his first goal of the NCAA tournament on the assist from Felix Schuetz 🤩@UIndyMSoccer | #D2MSOC pic.twitter.com/6SBxtxNyF8

— UIndy Athletics (@UIndyAthletics) December 10, 2021

2021 DII men's soccer semifinal: Nova Southeastern vs. Cal State LA full replay

It wasn't pretty, but Cal State LA is going to the final of the 2021 DII men's soccer tournament.

The Golden Eagles outlasted the Sharks of Nova Southeastern in penalties after 110 total minutes of scoreless play in regulation and extra time. Cal State won the penalty shootout 3-1, thanks to a closing stretch of three saves in a row from goalkeeper Alvaro Unanua.

The Golden Eagles will advance to Saturday's final, when they'll face the winner of tonight's second semifinal. Here's how things look right now:

• No. 1 Cal State LA 0(3), No. 4 Nova Southeastern 0(1) | Final (PKs) | Match stats
• No. 2 Charleston (WV) vs. No. 3 UIndy | Kickoff 10:30 p.m. ET tonight | Watch live on NCAA.com

If you're a fan of uptempo, attacking, dynamic soccer, this was not the match for you, not that anyone from Cal State LA will be complaining. What started as a cagey affair in the early going developed into a defensive struggle with both sides playing more not to lose rather than to win.

Extra time and penalties soon seemed inevitable, and that's where the match headed. Penalty takers from each team were shaky at the start, then Unanua took over to push Cal State LA over the top.

Click or tap here to view the 2021 DII men's soccer bracket.

The DII men's soccer semifinals are still looking for their first goal. It was a tense, cagey first half between No. 1-seed Cal State LA and No. 4 Nova Southeastern.

Only one shot on goal was the combined total in the half for both teams. This type of match is familiar for the Golden Eagles, at least recently, after they won their quarterfinal by a score of 1-0 over Cal Poly Pomona.

An early goal to start the half will certainly change the entire feel of the match and open things up. Otherwise we might be looking at extra time.

You can watch the second half live on NCAA.com here.

Top-seeded Cal State LA and No. 4-seed Nova Southeastern are still feeling each other out early on in their semifinal match in the DII men's soccer tournament.

The Golden Eagles have registered the only shot on goal so far, an effort from midfielder Jorge Orellana that was saved by Sharks keeper Alberto Ciroi.

But Nova Southeastern is starting to take hold of the possession and keep Cal State LA pinned in its own half.

You can stream the match live on NCAA.com here.

Cal State Los Angeles Athletics

The last four teams in the 2021 DII men's soccer tournament have been re-seeded and paired up for their matches in the semifinals.

Cal State LA will be the top seed in the semifinals, which will take place on Thursday, Dec. 9. Weidner Field in Colorado Springs will host both matchups. Fans will be able to watch both matches live here on NCAA.com by click on the game links below. Here are the matchups and schedule (all times Eastern):

• No. 1 Cal State LA vs. No. 4 Nova Southeastern | 7 p.m.
• No. 2 Charleston (WV) vs. No. 3 UIndy | 10 p.m.

Click or tap here to view the full 2021 DII men's soccer bracket. For a printable version, go here.

After Thursday's semifinals, the final will be on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 5 p.m. ET.

UIndy Athletics

We now know the four teams that will fight for a spot in the 2021 DII men's soccer national championship. UIndy and Cal State LA, the last remaining No. 1 seeds, advanced to the semifinals, along with No. 2 seed Charleston and No. 7 seed Nova Southeastern.

Charleston earned the most exciting victory of the day, scoring a golden goal in double overtime. Then Nova Southeastern clinched the biggest upset of the day, downing No. 5 AUM, 3-1. 

Here are the results from Saturday's action:

• No. 2 Charleston (WV) 2, No. 4 Millersville 1 (2OT)
• No. 7 Nova Southeastern 3, No. 5 AUM 1
• No. 1 UIndy 2, No. 6 Fort Hays State 0
• No. 1 Cal State LA 1, No. 7 Cal Poly Pomona 0

Matchups are still to be determined, but we do know the date of the semifinals — Thursday, Dec. 9.

This page will be updated once we learn the semifinal matchups.

Click or tap here for the full interactive bracket for the 2021 DII men's soccer championship.

And go here for the printable version of the bracket.