Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The ninth-ranked Eagles were able to keep a totally clean sheet against No. 22 CSU San Marcos on Thursday night, the only problem is that the Cougars walked away with a clean sheet too.
 
110 minutes on the pitch could not find a winner on Thursday as two very physical teams played to a 0-0 draw, enough to keep Biola undefeated on the season, meaning a perfect preseason.
 
"It is disappointing not to get the win," said Head Coach Todd Elkins. "But we look to keep improving, and the guys have a nice long break to get ready for conference."
 
BU moves to 6-0-1 on the year and CSUSM becomes 4-1-1 after the scoreless draw. Each team played very tight defense throughout, with both teams only managing a combined eight shots on goal.
 
The Eagles got a few more quality looks than their opponent was able to, but not necessarily to a difference in defensive ability, more so a difference in approach.
 
"San Marcos is incredibly defensively disciplined," said Elkins. "It is hard to catch them unaware or unprepared defensively. If they know they need to play defense, they will drop as many as 10 guys back into our offensive third and that makes it very difficult to get good chances."
 
With that many guys back on defense, it makes it difficult for the Cougars to find ways to counterattack, limiting their solid offensive attacks.
 
The Eagles had two really solid opportunities, the first coming 25 minutes into the game when Carlos Ballesteros struck one that had a strong opportunity to go in the net, but was blocked by CSUSM's keeper Zach Sheppard, who ended up with seven saves.
 
Just after this opportunity CSUSM countered by playing the ball quickly up the field where they had a chance, but their kick hit the inside post and bounce out of bounds for a goal kick.
 
That was it for excitement for most of the rest of the second half until Stephen Day cranked a good chance, but pulled it just barely over the crossbar right in the final seconds of the half.
 
The second half give way to quite as many opportunities, but the Eagles did manage to put together a few chances in the box after earning a corner kick and a few long throw ins.
 
The Cougars also got a chance late in the game when a foul was called on BU when CSU San Marcos had the ball right outside the top of the penalty box. They had a free kick in tremendous position, but were unable to convert.
"We had a few good looks today, and on other days some of those chances may have gone in, but not today," said Elkins.
 
The Eagles dominated possession in the two overtime periods, but were only able to put one shot on goal in each frame, only adding to Sheppard's save total.
 
Biola outshot the Cougars 24-7 and earned three more corner kicks, but the goal column was all even, and that keeps the Eagles at 6-0-1.
 
The team competes in its alumni game this Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. at Al Barbour Field. After that, the no. 9 Eagles begin their conference slate with a home match against The Master's Oct. 2.