BOX SCORE

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. --- The Master's College scored a pair of goals in the first 25 minutes of the match and held off a late charge to defeat Biola 2-1 in a battle for the GSAC regular season crown in the final game of the season on Saturday afternoon in Santa Clarita.

The Eagles finish the regular season with a 12-3-1 overall record, their most wins since recording 15 in 2002. They also finish in third place in the GSAC with a conference mark of 7-2-1, two points behind Azusa Pacific and five behind The Master's. The Mustangs wrap up the season with their first GSAC regular season title, posting a 14-2-1 overall record and a 9-1-0 overall mark in conference play.

The Master's took control of the game early, peppering the Biola net with a number of shots. The pressure finally got to the Eagles as a Biola defender went to clear the ball from danger, but headed it into the net for an own goal in the 13th minute.

The Mustangs collected another goal just 12 minutes later as Marlon Lindo won a scramble in the box and sent it past the keeper to give the team a 2-0 lead just 25 minutes into the match.

Biola came roaring back and pulled within one in the 39th minute as Marco Ruvalcaba sent home a ball of a set play. Tony Montalvo recorded the assist while Ruvalcaba collected his 10th tally of the season.

However, the Eagles were just unable to collect the tying goal off a tough Mustang defense. Biola had four shots in the second half, but The Master's goalkeeper Kevin Lawson, playing in his final regular season home game, came up big with a pair of saves.

Sophomore Aaron Fenlason was equally up to the task, recording seven saves while facing 13 shots. He made three of those saves in the final 45 minutes.

Despite the loss, Biola still is in good position in the GSAC Tournament which begins on Wednesday. The Eagles, the No. 3 seed in the field, host Vanguard University, the No. 6 seed, in their first-round game, scheduled to kick-off at 7:00 p.m. It is likely that the winner of the conference tournament will join host Fresno Pacific as the lone GSAC teams in the NAIA Tourament later this month.

The other games are No. 1 The Master's vs No. 8 California Baptist, No. 2 Azusa Pacific vs No. 7 Vanguard, and No. 4 Concordia vs. No. 5 Westmont. The first-round winners battle in the GSAC Semifinals on Saturday (Nov. 7) with the highest two seeds remaining hosting their games. The GSAC Tournament Championship game is slated for Saturday, Nov. 14.