Box Score COSTA MESA, Calif. --- After just squeaking into the Golden State Athletic Conference tournament, Biola women's soccer sees an early exit after a hard fought 1-0 loss to the No. 10 Vanguard Lions.
 
The Eagles entered the game with a long shot at beating VUSC who has been ranked highly for most of the season, including a No. 1 national ranking earlier in the year. BU was the No. 6 seed in the tournament with VUSC securing the No. 3 seed.
 
Biola's defense kept them in the game throughout the first half, coming up with some huge plays to hold the Lions scoreless and with just six shots in the first 45 minutes.
 
Victoria Dalla Zanna and Chrissy King also contributed to BU's strong first half, keeping possession of the ball and leading Biola to 10 shots in the frame, forcing Vanguard's Lauren Terry to make five saves to keep the 0-0 tie at halftime.
 
The tides changed early into the second half, when VUSC's defense stepped it up and forced the game to be a midfield struggle, with neither team getting the ball into its offensive third consistently.
 
Two corner kicks within the first five minutes of the second frame set up an opportunity for the Lions to strike, and they converted off the second set piece with the help of two of their All-GSAC players. Jennifer Martin kicked the second chance corner into the box and Ashley McCutcheon found the perfect header that sailed high to the right of Briana Williams to put Vanguard on top.
 
The struggle would continue throughout the remaining 40 minutes, and neither team would put together much as the two squads combined for just seven more shots in the match.
 
Michelle Clark had a chance to create an offensive attack off a corner with just 10 minutes to play, but Vanguard was able to defend the ball well to keep BU scoreless and give Terry her seventh shutout of the season.
 
The win advances VUSC to the tournament semifinals, where they will face Concordia on the road. The loss ends Biola's season as the Eagles finish with a 9-9-1 overall record.