BOX SCORE
FRESNO, Calif. --- Despite fighting back from a pair of two-goal deficits to force overtime, Biola was called for a very questionable hand ball in the box leading to a penalty kick which gave Fresno Pacific a 4-3 win in the second overtime of Tuesday night's GSAC match in Fresno.
The Eagles fall to 5-4-0 overall and are now 1-2-0 in GSAC play while the Sunbirds improve to 6-2-2 on the season and to 2-2-0 in the conference.
Biola got off to a slow start, allowing two goals to Fresno in the first half. Julie Ramirez got the Sunbirds on the board just four minutes into the match with a header into the left side of the net on a strong cross from Ida Rodriguez.
Just before the half, Jessica Pereschica headed home the second goal of the match with just over one-and-a-half minutes before the intermission.
Biola came out firing in the second half, scoring a goal just 51 seconds in. Senior Brittany Neill received a cross from Kate Glenn and headed it right past the keeper to narrow the lead to 2-1.
However, Fresno Pacific reponded nearlly immediately with a goal just over three minutes later as Tori Alvarez took a quick shot to extend the lead back to two goal.
Biola kept up the pressure and in the 59th minute, the Eagles earned a penalty kick after a foul in the box. Sophomore Caitlin Peterson stepped up and put the ball into the net to again cut the lead to one.
Biola finally managed to tie the score at 3-3 in the 70th minute as Ashley Moseley received a nice cross from Kahlie Reinecke and headed it into the net.
Both teams fought hard in overtime with Fresno Pacific outshooting the Eagles 6-1 in the first two extra periods. However, the referee called a questionable hand ball in the penalty box with 4:18 to play in the final period which lead to an FPU penalty kick. Ashley Sherr took the kick and ended the match with the golden goal.
The disappointing call was especially bitter as it took a hard-fought road point away from Biola. The Eagles have had trouble in Fresno the last two trips up north, losing 3-2 to the Sunbirds in 2006.
Biola returns to action on Saturday (Oct. 10), hosting No. 18 Concordia University at 4:30 p.m. The match takes place during Parent's Weekend and the Eagles are inviting parents of all fall sports athletes to join them for an exciting weekend. More information about the Parent's Weekend festivites can be found on Biola's main webpage (http://www.biola.edu).
