Skip To Main Content

Biola University Athletics

Scoreboard

The Official Athletic Site of the Biola University Eagles

Scoreboard

Hali
0
CSUSM-2 CSUSM-2 (2-2)
2
Winner BU-WS BU-WS (3-0)
CSUSM-2 CSUSM-2
(2-2)
0
Final
2
BU-WS BU-WS
(3-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
CSUSM-2 CSUSM-2 0 0 0
BU-WS BU-WS 2 0 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Brandon Taylor, Assistant Sports Information Director

Cool Under Pressure

Biola uses its deep roster to handle everything CSU San Marcos throws at it.

LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The CSU San Marcos Cougars came into tonight's match at Al Barbour Field with marked success against PacWest programs. They tried to use the same aggressive brand of play that earned them a victory at California Baptist University on Thursday night, but the Biola Eagles' composure extended to all facets of their game on Saturday and led to a 2-0 shutout.

The Eagles are now 3-0 after posting their second shutout in a row. The Cougars fall to 2-2, even though they took seven more shots than the home side and set the pace of play at the start.

"We knew what to expect with San Marcos' high energy and their direct play out of the back," said Head Coach Erin Brunelle. "A lot of our preparation was on combatting that, settling the ball out of the air and getting it on the ground to make them chase it. We had to ask a few players to step up into spots they haven't played all season, so I was encouraged by the depth of our bench."

The Cougars crammed all the action into the Biola half of the field for the first 20 minutes of the match. Space was at a premium for Biola and it seemed any ball that made its way into the visiting team's half was quickly corralled by the Cougars' sweeping keeper, Bailey Cockrill.

Eventually, the Eagles broke through in the 31st minute when Hali Oakes looked upfield and saw Samantha Verduzco making a run for the Cougars' backline. With the defenders unable to doubleteam Verduzco and Cockrill's customary aggressiveness taking her to the edge of the 18-yard box for the ball, Verduzco was able to break away and beat the keeper one-on-one to the near left post.

Just 32 seconds later, Annmarie Alvarez stopped CSUSM's attempt to surge back before it could even make the attempt. After the Cougars sent the ball forward from their kickoff, the Eagles quickly got the ball back in front of Oakes for her to find an open Alvarez down the right sideline.

Alvarez took her shot with about 25 yards between her and the goal, but she put enough on the ball for it to deflect off a scrambling Cockrill and into the net for her first goal of the season.

"We had been practicing being wide this week to prepare for San Marcos and Hali sent a nice, beautiful ball that I think anyone on our team could have finished," said Alvarez. "Our entire team had the mindset of pushing through and leaving all we had out on the field against a physical team. And they were completely behind my back and supported me [for that goal]."

The rest of the match belonged to Biola's defense and its effort to prevent the opponent from sending shots toward their intended target. CSU San Marcos was limited to just one shot-on-goal in each half and had difficulty beating Eagle defenders one-on-one all night.

"I thought [midfielder] Jessica Penner also did amazing stepping into a role and position that she was repped at two days coming into tonight," added Brunelle. "She was super composed for a freshman in that spot. Madyson Brown and Cat Newberry locked it down with our backline for us, but Penner is the player of the game for me."

Biola returns to action next Saturday against a familiar opponent. The Eagles welcome former GSAC foe Hope International to Al Barbour Field for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad

Sponsors