Box Score IRVINE, Calif. --- Facing its third NAIA top-10 opponent in its las four games, Biola's defense finally failed to rise to the occasion in a 4-1 loss against the No. 5 Concordia Eagles. The four goals conceded were as many as Biola gave up over the last eight matches combined.
In the only matchup of the year between these two rivals, Concordia jumped out quick against Biola, scoring just three minutes and 18 seconds into the contest off a great cross by Dalyn Petroff to Lauren Nanez for her sixth goal of the season. With Biola concentrating on shutting down Concordia's prolific scorer Megan Daniels, team-high 10 goals this season, Concordia's secondary threats were able to thrive. Nanez got on the board early, and then Alexis Garcia-Irons took advantage of the overwhelmed Biola defense, getting her sixth and seventh goals of the season to give Concordia an overpowering 3-0 lead within the first 37 minutes of play.
Biola had a big chance early in the contest that could have changed the whole tide of the game. After going down 1-0
Amanda Lillicrop got a through ball into the box to
Taylor Venegas, who was fouled for a penalty kick after getting knocked off a 1v1 against the keeper. The keeper was awarded a yellow card following the takedown, despite a situation warranting red card. She was allowed to stay in the match and blocked the ensuing penalty kick. Concordia was able to take advantage of this no-call and keep a full 11 on the field instead of playing with 10 for the rest of the match.
It looked like Biola might be able to make this a game again as the offense went right down the field immediately after CUI's third goal and
Ashley Ramirez her fifth goal of the season with the assist from
Janae Megorden.
A comeback was not to be, however. Concordia continued its dominance throughout the game, allowing just one shot by Biola in the second half and frustrating the Eagles offense to the point of
Taylor Venegas earning a yellow card. It marks just the second yellow card of the season for Head Coach
Todd Elkins' team.
Biola came into the game with a perfect in-conference record and place atop the Golden State Athletic Conference, notably notching wins over Westmont and The Master's College in tight, 1-0 victories. Those victories, while well deserved, could have gone either way with Biola's opponents getting good shots and maintaining equal possession with the Eagles. This was obviously not a similar outcome and portends ill for Biola's chances at a GSAC playoff run if forced to meet Concordia again.
The loss drops BU into second place in the GSAC standings behind the Concordia team whose only in-conference blemish is a tie with The Master's. Concordia will still go on the road for rematches with No. 12 Westmont and No. 11 TMC, so Biola may have a chance to reclaim its place atop the standings.
Biola returns to Al Barbour Field, where it remains undefeated, on Saturday to faceoff against No. 14 Vanguard.
