LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Sophomore Anthony Vela's leg gave him so much pain throughout the match that he had to be taken off the field twice due to the injury.

However, both times he returned and managed to put his best foot forward in the 57th minute, scoring the match's lone goal to help No. 23-ranked Biola to a 1-0 win over The Master's College Friday night.

Vela managed to get a toe on a ball in front of the net off a free kick from senior J.T. Searles to give the Eagles an important GSAC win.

Biola improves to 7-2-0 overall and 3-1-0 in conference play while the Mustangs drop to 6-5-1 and 1-2-1 in the GSAC.

Vela struggled with his injured leg throughout the match, dropping to a knee and having to come off the pitch midway through the first half and just after entering the match in the second.

However, just a few minutes later, a Mustangs player was called for a handball just outside The Master's box setting up the free kick which led to the goal.

Senior netminder Ryan George was outstanding in net again, though his defense helped keep the Mustangs' shot total down. He made one save while facing seven shots to record his fourth cleansheet of the season.

Biola's defense was stifling, snuffing out a number of chances by The Master's and setting up numerous scoring chances of their own with great ball work out of the back.

The victory for the Eagles moves them temporarily into a tie atop the GSAC standings with nine points. They are tied with Point Loma Nazarene, which plays at No. 18 Fresno Pacific on Saturday.

Biola is also two points ahead of No. 2 Azusa Pacific which plays a big match Saturday at No. 11 Vanguard.

The Eagles remain home for their next match, taking on a struggling California Baptist squad which is winless in its last nine matches after a season-opening 3-2 win over Cal State San Marcos. The two teams collide on Wednesday (Oct. 11) at 7:00 p.m. on Al Barbour Field.