LA MIRADA, Calif. ---
Natalie Oliver scored 39 seconds into the second overtime as Biola knocked off No. 25 Vanguard University on Al Barbour Field on Saturday night to wrap up second place in the GSAC standings.
The Eagles finish an impressive season with a 10-6-0 record and the GSAC with a mark of 7-2-0--the second-best conference record since the Eagles joined the GSAC in the 1994. Biola will be the No. 2 seed in the upcoming GSAC Tournament, which begins on Tuesday. The Eagles will open against No. 7 The Master's College at 7:00 p.m.
The Lions close out the season ranked No. 6 in the GSAC with a 4-4-1 record and finish the regular season with a 12-4-1 mark.
The Eagles, who were celebrating senior night, received a solid showing from their three seniors. Senior Sarina Coutin opened the scoring for Biola, joining a breakaway chance with sophomore Jessica Austin in the 53rd minute. Austin broke past the defense and passed over to a wide open Coutin for chip-in goal.
Vanguard responded 15 minutes later with a goal off a scramble after a corner kick which Charlotte Wisniewski headed home for the match-tying goal in the 68th minute.
Despite chances by both teams the rest of the way, the match headed to overtime. That is nothing new in this rivalry as this became the seventh consecutive match between the two teams to reach extra time. However, the Eagles have seemed to dominate those overtime sessions and had won four of the previous six with two ending in ties.
Saturday night was no different. After a relatively quiet first overtime, Biola came out firing in the second overtime and quickly scored the match-winner. Senior Brittany Barr send a high cross from the right side right to Oliver who touched it into the back of the net just 39 seconds into extra time.
Senior Erin Frushon came up huge in the match, making eight saves to keep the Eagles in the match. She faced 19 shots overall while Biola recorded seven.
The Eagles have seemingly become masters at winning 2-1 in double overtime. Saturday's match was their second-straight 2-1 win in double OT and the third such victory this season.
The Eagles head to the GSAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed, earning the tiebreaker by virtue of a win over Azusa Pacific earlier in the season. Biola hosts the No. 7 seed in The Master's College. The Eagles defeated the Mustangs 2-1 in double overtime on Wednesday in Santa Clarita.
The other opening round matches are No. 1 Point Loma Nazarene hosting No. 8 Fresno Pacific, No. 3 Azusa Pacific hosting No. 6 Vanguard and No. 4 Westmont hosting No. 5 Concordia. All matches will take place on Tuesday with the winners advancing to the GSAC Semifinals on Friday. The top two remaining seeds will host those matches.
