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Atu Galadima shields the ball from an opponent
Adam Washington
2
Winner Fresno Pacific FPU-MS (10-2-1, 5-2 PacWest)
1
Biola University BU-MS (6-7-1, 4-3 PacWest)
Winner
Fresno Pacific FPU-MS
(10-2-1, 5-2 PacWest)
2
Final
1
Biola University BU-MS
(6-7-1, 4-3 PacWest)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Fresno Pacific FPU-MS 1 1 2
Biola University BU-MS 0 1 1

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

Sunbirds Stop The Comeback

Just when it seemed Biola was going to clip a very good Fresno Pacific team, the Sunbirds scored with 31 seconds left.

LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The Biola Eagles had three points in their sights during the closing moments of the second half after they had tied the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds at 1-1 with 15 minutes left.

The Eagles' defense had limited a team that had scored 38 goals coming into the match to just four shots on goal as the final seconds of regulation ticked away. But a short corner kick from Anthony Velarde found the the head of Bruno Brumati at the near-right post and the ball crossed the goal line to help FPU escape overtime.

Despite look every part Fresno Pacific's equal on Saturday, Biola drops to 6-7-1, 4-3 PacWest, while the Sunbirds collect their 10th win of the year and jump to 15 points in the conference table.

Biola's defense was so good throughout the entire match that they made up for an early handball in the box that resulted in a penalty-kick opportunity for the Sunbirds. Captain Anthony Velarde converted the opportunity for his 11th goal of the year and to give Fresno Pacific the lead 15 minutes before halftime. But the Eagles would prohibit the visiting team from taking any other shots on goal during the first half before coming back with the equalizer from their own No. 10.

As the clock ticked over to the 75 minute, midfielder Atu Galadima made a nice run into the penalty area and was rewarded by a whistle from the referee after he was fouled from behind. Head Coach Todd Elkins decided to give Galadima a chance to finish what he started by allowing the sophomore the penalty kick attempt and Galadima delivered by shooting a simple line-drive toward the center of goal for the equalizer.

Before Fresno Pacific eventually netted the game-winner, the Eagles had two chances to win the match themselves in the 87th and 89th minute. Aaron Hontucan gave it a good ride on both opportunities, launching a straight-away shot at goal with pace only for Patrick Timmer to make a match-preserving save for FPU. Then taking a quality chance from 45 yards out on an errant blast that tried to catch Timmer out of position two minutes later.

Not to be forgotten in the loss was the effort of freshman midfielder Oscar Rubalcava, who worked very hard to make a difference in a match against his hometown team. The Clovis, California native tied Galadima for the team lead in shots with four and would have had a goal of his own on a blast at the top shelf if Timmer's glove hadn't redirected the ball onto the crossbar in the 56th minute.

The Eagles will have a week to regroup before hosting Cornerstone Cup rival Azusa Pacific on Oct. 27 at 4 p.m.
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