HILO, Hawai'i - The fifth-seeded Concordia University Irvine (12-4-2) women's soccer team started their post-season tournament play on Thursday taking on fourth-seeded Cal State LA (11-3-6) at Vulcan Soccer Field. This is the second meeting between these two teams this season but the result tipped in the favor of CUI this time around.

Earlier this season, a penalty was the decider giving CUI their first loss back in September. However, it was an early goal from Analisa Gjonovich that gave the green and gold the win on the big stage.

It only took Gjonovich five minutes to float an outstanding in-swung corner to the back post, deflecting off of a crashing defender and into the back of the net. 

CUI continued to pressure the designated home team throughout the first half but couldn't double the lead. Midfielder Layla Comeaux was the closest player to adding a tally for the green and gold, but Areli Reyes of Cal State LA stopped her strikes from distance. 

Comeaux led the team in shots with two, both being on goal. 

Cal State LA came out of the halftime break with a more significant offensive presence, pressuring CUI'sbackline throughout much of the half. All threats to Riley Urquiza's net and the early lead were dealt with with a strong combined defensive effort. The most dangerous chance for the black and yellow came from a free kick just outside the top of the box, where a vicious strike beat the wall, but Urquiza was there to meet it and relinquish the threat. 

Urquiza finished the game with three saves and earned her 5th clean sheet of the season.

In the closing ten minutes of the game, CUI was able to flip the momentum and started to combine excellently in the midfield, led by Olivia Ocampo, Daniela Filipovic, Comeaux, and Gjonovich. This helped turn the tide, pushing the remainder of the game into Cal State LA's half, eventually ending with the early first-half goal being the decider.

The Golden Eagles of CUI improve to 13-4-2 and earn another rematch with the top-seeded Hawai'i Hilo (13-0-3) this Saturday at Vulcan Soccer Field. 

CLICK HERE for all information regarding Saturday's matchup against the Vulcan's and livestream link details.