Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- On paper it looked like Biola was primed for a runaway victory over local rival Whittier College on Saturday night. If you looked at the stat sheet for every column except goals, it would look like that's exactly what happened. However, despite the best efforts of a surging Biola offense, the Poets escaped Al Barbour Field with a 2-1 win.
 
Biola had plenty of chances to overcome a deficit put in place by a 26^th-minute Poets tally, but failed to finish its opportunities. Once a 60^th-minute tally added to the lead a late goal from Thomas Samayoa was not much consolation to Biola as it posted its first loss of the 2015 season.
 
The first Whittier goal was an absolute smash from just outside the box that left not much chance of a save for the Eagles' keeper JT Addington.
 
Even after that goal midway through the first half Biola still managed to throw nine shots towards the goal and had a corner kick opportunity that was nearly finished by Kousei Mattox.
 
Those nine shots were a part of a ridiculous 29-shot effort from the Eagles, who were applying heavy pressure on the Poets defense and keeper all night long, but to no avail.
 
 That persistent offensive push made the 1-0 Whittier lead seem like something that would only be a temporary roadblock en route to another Biola win.
 
However, as seconds continued to tick off the clock deep into the second half confidence began to fade and the pressure on the Eagles began to ramp up a lot.

That pressure went through the roof after the Poets tacked on their second goal in the 60^th minute. The goal came when a forward finished a long throw in that bounced around a bit in the box. Whittier would only go on to have two more shots through the remainder of the game.
 
The pressure of a two-goal deficit forced many poorly timed passes that were easy for Whittier defenders to sweep away and had the Eagles' frustration visibly begin to rise on the pitch.
 
Finally, in the 78^th minute, Thomas Samayoa found himself on the end of a service from Devin Leon and buried his first career goal.
 
Despite continued control of possession and having a few more runs in their own offensive third, Biola failed to get another shot off and dropped their first game of the season.
 
The Eagles fall to 3-1, while the Poets improve their record to 1-1 with their first win of the season. Their two goals tonight were their first tallies of the year as well.
 
Biola has a half a week to work out its offensive kinks before returning to Al Barbour Field on Thursday night for a showdown with CSU San Marcos.