Box Score BELMONT, Calif. --- The No. 24 Eagles traveled up north to face their first non-NAIA program of the season, and thanks to a late goal from
Victoria Dalla Zanna they managed to squeak away with a 1-0 win over Notre Dame de Namur.
Â
Biola entered the game having just learned that they broke into the NAIA top 25 poll after winning four consecutive games, including last week's win against then-No. 15 CSU San Marcos. The ranking was the first time since 2006 that BU women's soccer has been in the top 25.
Â
NDNU entered the game coming off a bit of a rough patch, losing three of their last four games, being outscored 7-1 in the three losses.
Â
The Argonauts came out and saw some early chances, outshooting the Eagles 9-4 in the scoreless first half.
Briana Williams came up big between the pipes as she stopped all three NDNU shots on goal in the first half. The Eagles did not manage to get a single shot on target through 45 minutes.
Head Coach
Todd Elkins helped the squad refocus at halftime and the Eagles came out with a new wind, picking up four quick shots in an eight minute span between the 50
th and 58
th minute. Argonaut goalkeeper Kelsee Berryman held firm through those chances, picking up one save and watching another two soar high and one fly just wide.
Â
All of the opportunities were bound to lead to some scoring though, as it now seemed as if the Eagles had the upper hand.
Â
After a big save by Williams, Biola went down the field on a counterattack in the 62
nd minute when
Jessie Burns and Dalla Zanna saw an opportunity open up. Burns, from the top of the box, crossed the ball deep into the scoring area and it found Dalla Zanna for the goal.
Â
She put the Eagles ahead with her third goal of the season and the ninth of her four-year career at BU.
Â
After the score, the Eagles just needed to hold on for the last 28 minutes, and hold on they did. The Argonauts had just three more chances throughout the remainder of the game, but each of them had a chance to knot it up.
Â
Williams picked up her sixth and final save of the game on the first opportunity, and then was bailed out by a team save following a foul on the next chance and she just had to watch as NDNU's final shot sailed high.
Â
The win move Biola to 6-2-0 on the season and the Argonauts fall to 3-5. BU next hits the pitch on Tuesday when they open Golden State Athletic Conference play with a 7 p.m. match with The Master's at Al Barbour Field.
Â
Â