Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola was able to do something no other GSAC team has done this year: score a goal against Vanguard. However, the lone goal was not enough to pull off the upset as the Eagles fell 2-1 in a GSAC match on Saturday evening at Al Barbour Field.
Biola sees its four-match home winning streak come to an end as the Eagles fall to 6-6-1 overall and to 3-3-0 in conference play. Vanguard, which is ranked No. 10 in the latest NAIA National Rankings, improves to 10-2-0 and stays perfect at 6-0-0 in the GSAC.
The victory for the Lions was the first against Biola since the 2002 season and was the first match between the two schools to not go overtime since 2004. As has become the case over the last decade, the Eagles rose to the occasion and battled with the highly-ranked Vanguard team, though this time the outcome was not in their favor.
Vanguard got off to an early start in the contest, scoring the opening goal just 90 seconds into the contest. Amanda Couch sent a pass toward the Biola goal which looked like an easy clearance. But a miscue along the backline allowed Charlotte Wisniewski to take a crack and put it past the keeper and in for the early lead.
The Lions continued to pressure and forced another Biola mistake in the 21st minute. A pass ahead forced the keeper to come out of the goal. However, she would lose the challange and allow Jordan Davidson to tap the ball past her and into the net to make it 2-0.
Biola came right back and netted a goal less than 30 seconds later as Ashleigh Cooley send a through ball ahead to Jessica Austin who bet the defenders and snuck a shot under the oncoming goalkeeper to make it a 2-1 game with lots of time remaining.
The goal was the first allowed by Vanguard in six GSAC matches this year and just the sixth overall. Biola put forth an impressive effort to make it two and seven, but just couldn't seem to finish its numerous chances.
In the 36th minute, Victoria Dalla Zanna had a great chance to score, but her shot was saved by Lauren Terry, who stopped four shots in the first period alone.
Things stayed close in the second half as the teams went back an forth. Biola seemed to have a strong push in the final 10 minute, puttying three shots on goal over that stretch. Miranda Starbeck took a crack at goal in the 82nd minute only to see Terry again make a great save.
Despite ending the game with a 12-10 shot advantage, Biola just couldn't find the equalizer as time expired.
Terry made seven saves while Briana Williams made a pair for Biola.
The Eagles drop into a fourth-place tie with Concordia with the loss coupled with Concordia's 4-0 win over Hope International. The Royals are Biola's next opponent as the Eagles travel to Fullerton for the GSAC match on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Biola then returns home to face Concordia in a huge GSAC showdown at 4:30 pm on Saturday.
