RIVERSIDE, Calif. – La Sierra completed its remarkable run through its inaugural GSAC season on Tuesday night, capturing the 2025 GSAC Men’s Soccer Championship with a 2-0 victory over Benedictine Mesa. Behind a dominant possession performance and two second-half goals, the Golden Eagles claimed the conference title in their first season in the conference, sending the home crowd into celebration.
From the opening whistle, La Sierra controlled the pace and dictated the match’s rhythm. The hosts created repeated opportunities in the first 45 minutes, generating eight shots and six corner kicks, but could not find the finishing touch. Benedictine Mesa’s goalkeeper, Moritz Ae, kept his side in contention with a series of composed stops, including back-to-back saves on efforts from Vinicius Goncalves and Rodrick Promis. Despite being under heavy pressure, the Redhawks’ defensive shape held firm through halftime as the match remained scoreless.
The second half continued much the same way, with La Sierra pushing numbers forward and testing the Benedictine back line. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 62nd minute when Vinicius Goncalves slipped a pass to Damian Jimenez, who tucked a shot past the keeper for the game’s opening goal. The tally energized the Golden Eagles and deflated a Benedictine side that had struggled to maintain possession throughout the contest.
La Sierra’s attack stayed relentless, outshooting Benedictine Mesa 12-1 in the second period and earning four more corners to keep the visitors pinned in their defensive third. Goncalves and Promis were particularly active, combining for six total shots, while Carlos Leon and Christopher Remily provided fresh energy off the bench. Ae turned aside several quality chances to prevent the margin from growing, but the Redhawks could not generate a single shot on goal across the full 90 minutes.
With time winding down, La Sierra sealed the championship in the final minute of regulation. Alexander Munoz slipped through on the right wing and delivered a precise cross to Remily, who calmly finished in the 90th minute to make it 2-0 and put the result beyond doubt. The late goal punctuated a performance defined by patience, composure, and attacking quality from a Golden Eagle squad that consistently controlled tempo and space.
Statistically, La Sierra’s performance was comprehensive. The Golden Eagles finished with a 20-1 advantage in total shots and a 9-0 margin in shots on goal, while also earning 10 corner kicks compared to Benedictine Mesa’s two. Goalkeeper Abraham Perez recorded the clean sheet without being forced to make a save thanks to the disciplined play of the La Sierra defenders.
The victory sends La Sierra (14-3-1) to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round as the GSAC’s automatic qualifier, while Benedictine Mesa (10-6-5) will await potential selection for an at-large berth. For the Golden Eagles, the night represented both validation and celebration—a season of steady improvement culminating with the program’s first GSAC tournament crown and a ticket to the national stage.