Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola's impressive run through the GSAC tournament came to an end on Friday as the Eagles battled hard but fell 2-1 in the tournament final at No. 4 Vanguard.
Biola's six-game losing streak was snapped and its season comes to an end with a record of 12-7-1. The Lions, who won the regular season GSAC title with a 10-0 record, improves to 16-2 and earns the GSAC's automatic berth to the NAIA Tournament.
The Eagles did manage to do something no other GSAC team has done this year, scoring a goal against the stingy Vanguard defense. Biola did it during the regular season and matched the feat in the tournament final, but the Eagles just couldn't keep the Lions off the board.
Vanguard got the game's first goal as Jordan Davidson beat the Biola defense and slotted a shot past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0 Lions just over eight minutes into the game.
The Eagles definitely looked shell shocked through the first 25 minutes of the game, but slowly started to play at the same pace as the highly-ranked Vanguard team. Biola's first chance came in the 24th minute as Ashleigh Cooley cracked a shot that had to be saved by the Vanguard net minder.
Miranda Starbeck would take a nice shot three minutes later but again a save by the Lion keeper kept the score at 1-0.
Biola again came out strong to start the second half, but the Eagles couldn't get off any shots. Vanguard then had a short run of offense and the Lions were able to get a big second goal. Kayla Arenas took a shot in a scramble, deflecting it off a Biola defense and over the keeper into the back of the net. The goal made the game 2-0 in the 65th minute.
Despite the fierce uphill battle Biola faced, the Eagles kept pushing forward and got on the board in the 73rd minute. Jessica Austin got a breakaway chance and cracked a shot which was saved, but bounced right back to a wide-open Stephanie Cubias, who fired a shot into the top right corner to make it 2-1.
Biola continued to attack and look for the equalizer and had another great chance as Cubias took a pass along the end line to the left side of the goal and blasted a shot on goal. However, Vanguard net minder Lauren Terry came up huge, making a great save.
That would be the Eagles' last real chance as Vanguard did a good job of running out the clock in the Biola end.
Briana Williams came up huge for the Eagles, making six saves to keep them in the game. Terry was just a bit better, making three saves and allowing just one goal.
Biola's 12 wins on the season matched the third-highest total in program history. The Eagles also reached the GSAC Tournament final for the first time. Unfortunately, Biola is just outside of the NAIA's Top 25, meaning it is highly unlikely the Eagles will earn one of the few at-large berths available.
To view pictures from the game, visit the photos page on Facebook courtesy of Jay Henderson.
