Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola scored four unanswered goals to overcome an early deficit and remain perfect at home, cruising to a 4-1 win over Vanguard University in a key GSAC showdown on Saturday night at Al Barbour Field.
The Eagles move into second place in the conference standings with the victory, improving to 8-4-1 overall and to 4-2-0 in GSAC play. Biola also remains perfect at home with a 5-0-0 record. The Lions fall to 5-6-3 and suffer their first GSAC loss to fall to 3-1-2.
Biola fell behind early in the contest as the Lions scored on a breakaway in the 20th minute. But the Eagles responded nine minutes later in dramatic fashion. Stephen Tanquary crossed a nice ball into the box where Joey O'Keefe was waiting and finished with a shot to the upper right corner to score his first collegiate goal and tie the match at 1-1.
Just before the half, Biola earned a free kick just outside of the box on the nearside after a hard challenge by a Vanguard defender. Senior Tony Montalvo stepped up to take the free kick and blasted a shot over the wall and past the outstretched arms of the keeper to give the Eagles the 2-1 lead with 55 seconds left before halftime.
Biola fought off a fierce attack by the Lions to start the second half and managed to keep it a one-goal game. The Eagles kept pressing forward as well, getting many of their best chances on the counter-attack.
One of those counters ended up resulting in a big insurance goal in the 74th minute as Aaren Lewis sent a pass ahead to Daniel Chew who finished with a quick flick to the far post to give Biola a 3-1 advantage.
The Eagles capped the scoring with another goal in the final minute of the half, this time Marshall Deogracia gathered a ball at midfield and beat a pair of defenders before blasting a shot past the keeper to make it 4-1.
Joshua Crichton received the victory in goal for the Eagles, making a pair of saves while facing 14 shots in the game. Biola managed 19 shots, putting 14 of them on frame.
The Eagles picked up three big points and move past Vanguard into second place in the GSAC standings with 12 points overall. Vanguard has 11 and San Diego Christian has 10. Concordia continues to lead the conference with 18 points.
Biola returns to action on Tuesday, traveling across town to battle Hope International University in a GSAC contest at 3:00 p.m. The Royals (8-5-1, 2-3-1 GSAC) sit tied for fifth with Westmont and had a two-game winning streak snapped in a 4-0 loss at Concordia on Saturday. The Eagles host Concordia in their next home game on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
