Box Score PHOENIX, Ariz. --- After a sluggish start, Biola's offense heated back up to score five goals from late in the first half on in a win over Arizona Christian.
The win kicks off the Golden State Athletic Conference season, moving Biola to 1-0 in conference and 7-1 overall. Biola has not started GSAC play with a win since 2009 when it beat San Diego Christian, 2-0, at Al Barbour Field. Biola would finish 2-6-2 in conference that year, but this year's team already has more overall wins than that team had all season.
After a disappointing scoreless outing against No. 17 CSU San Marcos, the Eagles' offense seemed watered down again, with just one goal to show after a first half in which they dominated possession.
"We were a bit frustrated to be up only 1-0 at halftime," said Head Coach
Todd Elkins. "We came out with much more determination in the second half, led by
Brittney Sayre's second goal of the game."
However, in the second half, Biola regained its record-setting form against an ACU squad that is notorious for its struggles against Biola. With this win, Biola women's soccer has now outscored the Firestorm 24-0 in the two teams' last five matchups.
Leading the way this time, with a pair of goals each, were
Samantha Verduzco and Sayre. The two goals move Sayre into a tie with
Taylor Venegas, who also scored in this game, for the most on the team with five goals through the first eight contests.
Biola's offense, like most teams, relies heavily on the defense to create turnovers and generate open field runs and counters. In this game, the defense was able to do just that, limiting ACU to just three shots and moving the ball swiftly upfield to initiate the offense.
Briana Williams, Biola's goalkeeper, even got an assist with a beautiful goal kick setting up Sayre's second goal.
Kayla White and
Alexis Lee also got into the mix, with White earning an assist on the Venegas goal and Lee getting the last two assists, both on Verduzco goals which came mere seconds apart.
"Kayla played a great diagonal ball that bounced once before Taylor headed it past the keeper," said Elkins. "Samantha came off the bench and made an impression with her two goals in succession late in the game."
This season, Biola has allowed five shots or fewer five times. The Eagles have outscored opponents 19-2 in such occasions. Biola held ACU to just three shots on Tuesday, two of which were saved by Williams. In contrast, Biola fired 24 shots, including 13 shots-on-goal. It is the Eagles' fifth time this season with 15-plus shots and fifth time with double-digit shots-on-goal. In 2013 the Eagles averaged just over nine shots-on-goal per contest.
Biola finishes its five-game road trip close to home on Saturday when it takes on Hope International University. The Eagles follow that match with a three-game homestand, beginning against Westmont next Tuesday.
