Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- 541 minutes and counting…
 
Biola Men's Soccer secured its fifth shutout in a row on Saturday night at Al Barbour Field. The Eagles got scores from Devin Leon and Keaton Kerr to ensure a 2-0 victory over visiting UC Merced that helps BU end its preseason with a 5-1 record.
 
The Eagles and Bobcats played a scoreless first 45 minutes before Biola was finally able to find the back of the net twice in the second half to avenge last year's 2-1 loss to UC Merced up north.
 
While the game was scoreless it was actually largely uninteresting because neither team was able to break through the other's midfield to put many legitimate chances on goal.
 
The two standout plays of the scoreless first 45 minutes had to be an impressive sliding challenge from behind by Riley Waldeck that stopped a UCM attacker at the top center of the penalty box and a sequence of incredible back-to-back point blank saves by Igor Puglia later in the half.
 
Puglia was confident, composed and in control throughout the match as he dealt well with the 12 shots the Bobcats were able to send his way. Those two back-to-back saves were the only ones he would have to make all night as the other 10 coming from the Bobcats all sailed wide, high or nowhere near the goal.
 
The scoring was opened in the 74^th minute as a tremendous individual run from Devin Leon resulted in the senior captain's first tally of the 2016 season. Leon found the back of the net after remaining on his feet after a challenge from behind and sidestepping another defender to set himself up with a chance to beat the keeper one-on-one.
 
No fancy footwork was needed for the Eagles' next goal as Keaton Kerr scored his first collegiate goal with a one-timer on an impeccable long ball served in by fellow junior Jarrett Pugh.
 
Kerr's goal came in the 82^nd minute of play and all but ensured victory for the Eagles, with the tenacious play of their star-studded back line. Biola only had to face one more shot from the Bobcats over that final eight minutes, and it sailed wide.
 
The Eagles improve to 5-1 with the win, while UC Merced drops to 2-4 in 2016. Biola begins Golden State Athletic Conference play on Tuesday night as it hosts Arizona Christian for a 4:30 p.m. match.