LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola's 1-0 victory over Point Loma Nazarene University on Saturday was an appropriate finish for the Eagles' final home match of the regular season. Biola's seniors went undefeated at home in their final season of soccer, finishing with a big defensive stand after scoring the match's only goal in the ninth minute.

The Eagles are now 8-0-1 at home and elevate their PacWest record to 6-3-2. The Sea Lions fall to 6-5 in conference play and 7-7-1 overall.

"We were definitely on our heels for the first five to ten minutes but Samantha Verduzco did well to not give up on that play and sneak the ball across the goal for Sarah Jeffries to put in," said Head Coach Erin Brunelle. "We had to withstand a very, very good Point Loma side that is super organized and kept the ball well. It took a big group effort defensively but it was entertaining to watch on both sides."

The Sea Lions came at the Eagles quickly in the opening minutes of the match. Point Loma created two cornerkicks and took three shots within the first five minutes of the match. But it was Biola who seized the early opportunity to score.

For a moment it seemed Verduzco's run down the right sideline would be stifled because of the defender impeding her progress while another Sea Lion closed in. But in the tightest of openings, Verduzco poked the ball past her challenger right at the end line and found Sarah Jeffries right in front of the goal.

Because Verduzco's move created an open net, Jeffries was able to one-touch the ball across the goalline with her preferred right foot to give Biola a lead just as the clock struck nine minutes.

Point Loma carried a seven-to-three shot advantage into the halftime break, but Biola quickly turned the tables on the visiting team and prohibited it from taking a shot-on-goal in the second half en route to the Eagles' sixth clean sheet.

"Coming of such a strong defensive season last year it was nice to get more shutouts like this one," said senior captain Cat Newberry. "We were hoping for another [goal], but we able to hold the one and did our job back there."

Point Loma came extremely close to tying the match in the final minute when Abbi Swanson rifled a shot toward goal on a set piece. But the ball sailed just enough to collide squarely with the crossbar are kick back to the top of the 18-yard box for the Eagles to clear.

It just felt right for this particular group of seniors to play 80 solid minutes of defense to win their Senior Day match, especially after the heartwarming ceremony before the match that honored the contributions the eight players had made to the team.

"I was glad that we could get all the seniors some time on the field today. They've been such a strong group that has supported each other from day one and became the best of friends," said Brunelle. "That's been the legacy of this program: you come in as a bunch of strangers and you leave as life-long friends and sisters in Christ."

Biola closes out its regular season with a extended road trip to Northern California next week. The Eagles next match will be against Academy of Art on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.