LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola Men's Soccer had eight games end in a tie or loss by one goal in 2014. In 2015, the team looks to turn the tide of those close games and compete for a trip to the national tournament, and ultimately a national championship.
 
Head Coach Todd Elkins' team finished 7-6-4 in 2014, which qualifies as a disappointing follow-up to what was one of the best seasons in program history in 2013.
 
"I want this to be the best season Biola has ever had," said Elkins. "We have high hopes for the year, but I think we want to take this one day at a time.… We still have quite a bit left undone from last year."
 
A group of six seniors, including two returning all-conference players, leads a large roster with a bunch of new faces into a very competitive Golden State Athletic Conference this fall.
 
The core group of returning players, including nine players who started at least half of the team's games last season, couples with a very strong incoming class of recruits to make up Biola's 25-man roster.
 
Elkins added five freshmen, three transfers and gained two players who sat out last season as redshirts.
 
"They're going to come in and give us some fresh energy and a fresh look to our team. But, they also might be looked on to contribute right away," said Elkins.
 
Kousei Mattox is a new player to watch defensively. He is an incoming freshman who's spent his entire life playing in Japan up until this summer when he played for the So. Cal Seahorses.
 
Leonardo Contreras sat out last season as a redshirt, but this year is expected to contribute heavily to Biola's offensive attack. He joins the Eagles after two years at Santa Ana College.
 
Biola begins its slate as it customarily has, with a scrimmage against CSU Los Angeles before breaking into a tough preseason slate. A few home games to watch in the preseason include Sept. 2 against Marymount, Sept. 10 against CSU San Marcos and Sept. 12 against NCAA Div. II opponent Dixie State.
 
Once the Golden State Athletic Conference schedule begins just about every game is a game to watch, as there is so much parity in the conference that six schools finished with winning records in the nine-team conference last season.
 
"I think the last three games of our season are a tough stretch for us, with three straight road games," said senior midfielder Stephen Tanquary. "But, we want to go undefeated. We have the squad to do it. If we work hard, stay humble and just work for each other I have no doubt that we have the ability to do that."
 
All home games are free for Biola students. All home and most road games are streamed live at portal.stretchinternet.com/biola/.