Box Score LANCASTER, Calif. --- Playing away from home for the first time this season was no problem for No. 22 Biola Women's Soccer as they handled the University of Antelope Valley in an impressive 5-0 victory in the desert.
 
This is Biola's second win over Antelope Valley in the last three years. The Eagles have outscored the Pioneers 14-0 in the two games.
 
"They're a side we hadn't played in two years," said Head Coach Erin Brunelle. "They definitely have improved in the past two years. They've brought in good quality players. They were quick, physical and a bit scrappy, disrupting a lot of our possession."
 
That scrappy defense managed to keep the Eagles off the board for much of the first half, but it was none other than Thursday's two-goal scorer, Samantha Verduzco, that cracked open the scoring in the 26^th minute. It was the first of her two goals in the contest and came off a feed by Ashley Ramirez, who also had multiple points with a goal and assist.
 
Verduzco's first goal came after 25 minutes of back-and-forth action that seemed to favor Antelope Valley. The Pioneers had more shots and more shots-on-goal until Verduzco's goal seemed to turn the tides for good.
 
"Early in the game they got a couple opportunities and Amanda had to make some saves," said Brunelle.
 
Amanda Johnson had her third start of the season for the Eagles and posted her second shutout of the year. She stopped four balls in the first half before having a bit mellower half in the second 45 minutes.
 
The second half was all in Biola's favor. This was primarily because of a fantastic performance from Biola's bench players. Brunelle entered every player eligible and healthy to relieve the starters who were in the midst of their third game in six days.
 
After Verduzco's second tally came in the 58^th minute to make it 2-0 the Eagles' final three scores came from bench players.
 
The third goal of the game came off of the foot of Ashley Ramirez. She had an open opportunity at the top of the box and crushed it past the keeper.
 
"We knew going into this game we would have to use a lot of our bench," said Brunelle. "The story is how well our bench did. Ashley Ramirez had a wonderful game."
 
With just five minutes left to play it seemed like Biola was on its way to its second 3-0 victory of the week, but some more super subs had a bit to say about that. The goals came flooding in those final five minutes as Mariah Ziemer and Emily Neighbors both posted their first goals of the season.
 
"Mariah's goal looked like it might be stopped by the keeper, but it squeaked by," said Brunelle. "Emily found the ball at the top of the box and roofed it by the keeper."
 
Neighbors' goal ended the scoring and locked in Biola's second victory of the season. The Eagles improved to 2-0-1 and Antelope Valley dropped to 0-1.
 
Biola's next match is at home on Sept. 5. The Eagles host CSU San Marcos at 4:30 p.m.