Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Despite the fantastic play turned in by Biola's players, the bounces that went the opponent's way led to Biola's 0-2 loss to Northwest (WA) in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament on Saturday.

The home team did so many things well tonight that the score does not communicate on the surface; from shots taken to shots allowed, Biola actually dominated every statistical metric of team performance in the match. BU took 10 corners compared to the Northwest Eagles' three, outshot the opponent 38-to-18, and even won the battle for shots on goal at a 10-to-4 clip.

The numbers only begin to indicate the effort, grit and determination the home side displayed for the 200 plus fans in attendance. Time and again, forwards Taylor Venegas, Samantha Verduzco and Jessie Burns made runs against the Northwest backline that made the crowd rise to their feet. But each of those occasions seemed to be accompanied by a bad bounce for Biola: lunging Northwest defenders would get back just in time to block a shot or poke a through ball.

Or there would just be too many bodies in the 18-yard box to have enough space to shoot properly. McKenna Marmelstein worked so hard at commanding midfield play and rifling in her revered throw-ins that she played without her customary head guard for the last 25 minutes after it came off during a tackle.

Bri Mikalson, Maddy Brown, Kayla White and Cat Newberry also did admirably covering three-quarters of the pitch in the latter part of the second half. It was almost as if they took turns doing wind sprints from the offensive third back to the Biola goal to cover Northwest sweeper Tiffany Taylor and the other forwards as they mounted counter attacks.

In the end, the visiting Northwest team took advantage of the bounces their way and made them stand up. An early first half goal from Rylee Rassier was followed by a second half strike from Bailey Travis from 25 yards out that put the away team up 2-0 and eventually sent it on to the next round. The shot from Travis was the only shot on goal Biola allowed during the second half of play.

Despite the loss, this season has still posted some of the best marks in Biola Women's Soccer history. After 19 matches, this 2016 team holds the program records for goals allowed in a season (only nine), shutouts in a season (11), and wins at home (nine) since Biola started playing women's soccer in 1992. It ranks within the top-5 of almost every other offensive and defensive category and is tied for the second-highest number of total wins for one season with 15.

And lastly, the senior class of Jessie Burns, McKenna Marmelstein, Taylor Venegas, Kayla White and Mariah Ziemer end their esteemed careers as the most decorated players the program has seen to date. They are distinguished as the only graduating class to reach the NAIA National Tournament in their final two seasons and have and amassed more wins (52) over their four years at Biola than any other women's soccer player.