LA MIRADA, Calif. --- For the first time in a long while, the Biola University men's soccer team will host a regular-season tournament as the Eagles welcome three teams to Al Barbour Field for the Biola Men's Soccer Classic on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 14-15).
Joining Biola in the Classic will be Simon Fraser University (B.C.), Trinity International University (Ill.), and fellow GSAC rival Vanguard University.
The tournament kicks off on Friday at 2:00 p.m. as Vanguard takes on Simon Fraser University with Biola facing Trinity International at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, Vanguard and Trinity International square off at 4:30 p.m. with the Eagles closing the Classic against Simon Fraser at 7:00 p.m.
Adding to the excitement of four matches in two days will be a pair of women's games. Biola faces the Trinity International women's squad on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and the Vanguard women face the Trojans on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
Live Stats and results will be available throughout the Classic on the official tournament site.
Here is a closer look at the teams in the tournament:
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY BC (5-1-1 Overall): The Clan started out the season with five consecutive shutouts before losing 2-1 to Whitworth College last week. Simon Fraser junior netminder Thomas Lindley has been solid this year, allowing just the two goals in six matches and posting a 0.34 goals against average. He has made 14 saves and been credited with four shutouts. Sophomore Lucas Barrett leads the Clan with three goals while junior Justin Carvary has two goals and a pair of assists. The Eagles are 0-4-0 against SFU all-time including a 2-1 loss when the teams last met in 2005.
TRINITY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY IL (0-4-1 Overall): The Trojans finished 2006 with an 11-7-3 record and reached the NAIA Region VII semifinals. However, they have not been able to carry that success into 2007 and are still looking for their first win of the season. TIU has struggled offensively, scoring just three goals in five matches. The defense has provided a great deal of support, allowing just nine goals with five coming in a 5-2 loss to No. 19 Lindenwood University. Biola took on the Trojans once before, back on August 31, 1996. In that match, the Eagles defeated TIU in La Mirada by a 4-0 score to open the season.
VANGUARD UNIVERSITY CA (4-0-0 Overall): The Lions have opened the 2007 season with four straight wins after reaching the NAIA Region II finals in 2006. The offense has been carrying Vanguard thus far as the Lions have scored 13 goals already this year. While the freshman goalkeeping tandem of Trevor Herrera and Kyle Pearsall opened the year with back-to-back shutouts, they did surrender five goals in two matches on their recent trip to the Bethel College Tournament in Indiana. Offensively, 2006 All-GSAC pick Sem Lopez has tallied three goals and Christofer Leiva has added five assists.
