MSOC Weekend Preview

Cal State L.A.'s, which posted two shutout victories last week to begin CCAA play, has moved up to No. 7 in the nation in rankings. Cal State L.A. has now achieved a national top-10 ranking in seven consecutive seasons. The Golden Eagles were ranked No. 1 in the country during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Cal State L.A. (4-0) opened conference play last week with 1-0 victories against Cal Poly Pomona and UC San Diego. Both teams were undefeated before facing the Golden Eagles and the Tritons were ranked 25th in the nation.

Cal State L.A. began its conference schedule with hard-fought wins at home against Cal Poly Pomona on Friday and UC San Diego on Sunday. The Golden Eagles have recorded the conference's best regular-season record in two consecutive and four of the past five seasons.

The lone goal in Friday's win against Cal Poly Pomona came via a beautiful strike from Juan Ochoa, who received a throw-in from Daniel Rodriguez and launched a curving shot from about 35 yards away into the upper corner of the goal in the 29th minute. Cal State L.A. limited the Broncos to just six shots in the game and Mike Beigarten made four saves for the shutout in his Cal State L.A. debut.

The Golden Eagles won again on Sunday by a 1-0 score against the Tritons. Troy Dumlao got the game's only lone goal with an alert play. He jumped on a UC San Diego miscue in between two defenders and quickly sent a shot past the onrushing goalkeeper and inside the far post in the 47th minute. It was his first goal of the season. Beigarten made two saves in the game, including a spectacular stop in the first half of a header that seemed destined to find the net.

Cal State L.A. will play its first road games of the season this week. The Golden Eagles will face San Francisco State on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in San Francisco before meeting No. 25 Cal State Monterey Bay on Sunday at 5 p.m. 

West Texas A&M is now tabbed eighth in the country, according to the latest poll. The Buffs are 4-0 for the second consecutive season. They have outscored their opponents 13-1 in their first four matches.

The Buffs began the season with three consecutive shutouts against Colorado State-Pueblo, Ouachita Baptist and McMurry, before allowing their first goal Monday in a 4-1 triumph against Lubbock Christian. After receiving votes in the preseason poll, WT's 2-0 record through Week 1 propelled them into the 14th spot in last week's rankings. The Buffs have also outshot their opponents, 81-31.

Sophomore George Beasley leads the team in goals with three after recording a hat trick in a 5-0 victory against McMurry. Beasley and senior Carl Prestidge each stand at six points on the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Garrett Cooper is 4-0 for the Buffs and boasts an incredible .27 GAA.

The Buffs return to action on Thursday, Sept. 19, as they welcome Dallas Baptist to The Pitch. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. WT is a perfect 6-0 all-time against the Patriots, while outscoring them 22-3 in four games in Canyon. West Texas A&M will then catch up with Texas A&M International on Saturday at 1 p.m.