Box Score
HANNIBAL, Mo. --- For the first time in quite a while, Biola did not walk off the field victorious after a shootout. Instead, Hannibal-LaGrange ended up with the shootout victory, ending Biola's run in a tough 4-2 loss after the teams played to a 1-1 draw in the Opening Round of the 2011 NAIA Tournament on Saturday.
The Eagles's season comes to an end with a 13-5-3 overall record and with the team ending the year with a seven-match unbeaten streak. It also left Biola still without an NAIA Tournament win in eight matches with four of those ending in draws.
The game got off to an exciting start as Biola as both teams tallied goals in the first 15 minutes of the match.
The Eagles struck first, netting a goal just eight minutes in. Biola drew a foul as Marco Ruvalcaba was taken down from behind about 33 yards from the goal. Kevin Kiser stepped up to take the kick and put it right on frame, short-hopping the goalkeeper, who had trouble with it. Daniel Chew came across and found the loose ball, tapping it into the net to make it 1-0.
However, Hannibal-LaGrange would tie the score up quickly, taking advantage of a big Biola error in back. A long ball sent into the area where the Biola netminder and a defender collided both going for the ball. Sergio Beltrol gathered the ball and lofted it into the empty net to tie the match at 1-1 just 13 minutes in.
Despite the quick scoring, goals the rest of the way were not to be found, mostly due to heavy winds which made it tough for both teams. The two teams played relatively evenly the rest of the first half, but the Trojans had the better of play in the second half, outshooting the Eagles 11-2 over the final 45 minutes. However neither team could find the back of the net.
In the overtime period, Biola received a gift as an HLG player was called for his second yellow card and allowed the Eagles to play up a man the rest of the way. But they could not take advantage. Biola had a few chances immediately after the card including a great pass into the box off a free kick to Cody Shelton, who headed it just wide of the net.
Hannibal-LaGrange had a number of chances in the second overtime, playing with the wind. But in the end, the teams finished in a tie.
Biola headed to the shootout with a perfect 3-0 record over the last three years while Hannibal-LaGrange had lost its only one in recent memory in the 2008 NAIA Opening Round.
Hannibal-LaGrange went first and scored but Zach Bautista hit the crossbar and stayed out to give the Trojans the early lead. HLG would score again on its next attempt as Aaron Fenlason guessed right, but the ball snuck just past him.
Biola got on the board as Cody Shelton blasted on to the left side. The third shot by the Trojans saw Fenlason guess right again and get a hand on it, but it still found its way to the back of the goal to make it 3-1. Biola's next shooter was Marco Ruvalcaba who fired one behind the diving keeper, but somehow he managed to kick it out of the goal to push Biola's backs against the wall.
Fenlason kept the Eagles' hopes alive with a big save on the next shot and Julio Cuevas made it 3-2 by beating the keeper to the right. However, Bertrol came up big again, beating Fenlason with a low shot left to end the game.
The Trojans advance to the NAIA Second Round for the first time in program history and will face the winner of the game between Lyndsey Wilson and Roberts Wesleyan (NY) on Monday, Nov. 28.
