LA MIRADA, Calif. – Senior Jenni Loya scored the game-winner in the 78th minute to give the Biola women's soccer team a hard fought 3-2 victory over Oklahoma Baptist Thursday night at Al Barbour Field in La Mirada.

The Eagles improve to 1-0-1 with the victory while the Bison dropped to 0-1-0 in their opener.

Loya, by far the shortest player on the field at 4-9, came up with the biggest play of the match as she touched home a beautiful cross by junior Brandi Johannsen for the go-ahead goal.

Oklahoma Baptist drew first blood just one minute into the contest thanks to a spectacular free kick by Lauren Aldred. The Bison defender lofted a free kick from about 40 yards out toward the Biola goal where Aline Santos took advantage of some miscommunication along the back line to head it in.

The Eagles answered back in the 12th minute as senior Jordan Bishop danced around a pair of defenders at the top of the box before finding the back of the net with a perfect blast from 15 yards out.

In the 49th minute freshman Becky Mossman headed home another great cross by Johannsen to put the Eagles up 2-1. The lead was short-lived, though, as Aldred lobbed a 35-yard free kick over the outstretched arms of the Eagles' keeper and into the back of the net just five minutes later.

The two teams played evenly over the final half hour setting up Loya's late heroics.

The Eagles outshot the Bison by a 13-7 count in the match and held a 6-0 edge on corner kicks.

Biola returns to the pitch a week on Saturday (Sept. 9) for a 7:00 p.m. home match against Corban College on Barbour Field.