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Biola Men's soccer celebrating a game-winning goal
George Rodriguez
1
Holy Names HNU-MS (4-12-1, 3-7 PacWest)
2
Winner Biola University BU-MS (7-8-2, 5-4-1 PacWest)
Holy Names HNU-MS
(4-12-1, 3-7 PacWest)
1
Final
2
Biola University BU-MS
(7-8-2, 5-4-1 PacWest)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT-2 F
Holy Names HNU-MS 1 0 0 1
Biola University BU-MS 1 0 1 2

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

Rubalcava Rips The Game-Winner

After the Holy Names forced Biola to play into overtime at home, freshman Oscar Rubalcava responded with a game-winning goal three minutes into OT.

LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The Biola Eagles came into Thursday's match with Holy Names wanting to exercise the frustration that had been building a bit over their three previous matches.

The Eagles went toe-to-toe with the three top teams in the PacWest and played extremely well, pushing Fresno Pacific, Point Loma and even No. 8 Azusa Pacific to the brink by keeping the score tied deep into regulation. But with only one point to show for all their hard work, Biola was intent on channeling its frustration into a big win just as it had done at Hawaii Hilo to conclude the Hawaii road trip.

The big scoring output did not come on Thursday as it had against the Vulcans. But Head Coach Todd Elkins' team did take the first lead of the match and eventually earned three points after Oscar Rubalcava scored a goal three minutes into overtime.

Biola is now 5-4-1 in PacWest play and guarantees a .500 record in conference for the second-straight season. The Eagles will also look to finish with an even overall record on Saturday when they host Dominican and chase after the eighth win of their season.

The start of the match was marked by the Eagles' strong attack from the get-go and 17 total shots in the first half. Atu Galadima led the charge in Biola's aggressive start and found himself in the right place on a fortunate play for Biola that gave the Eagles the lead just nine minutes into the match.

Following pressure from Biola that pushed the ball to the Eagles attacking endline, the Holy Names keeper miss-hit his clearance from just in front of his line and only kicked it as far as Akhigbe Unuigbe about 30 yards out from goal. After taking a touch to control the ball, Unuigbe looped the ball back into the penalty area, where Galadima tussled with the keeper and another Hawks defender to win the ball and eventually put it in the back of the net.

Biola would hold its 1-0 for just over 30 minutes until Holy Names came up with an equalizer just before halftime. As the match wore on, the Eagles found it tougher and tougher to score as the Hawks' defense began to settle in and step in the spaces Biola likes to use to create scoring chances.

Biola would only produce two more shots-on-goal during regulation after Galadima's score. And that number is in spite of the 27 total shots the Eagles took in the match. But the offense was effective at keeping Holy Names constantly on its back foot. The Hawks countered with only 12 shots of their own and finally gave up the match in overtime on another defensive miscue.

Just about three minutes into overtime, the Eagles switched the ball to the left sideline and found Rubalcava open from about 35 yards out. Moving forward with the ball at his feet, Rubalcava bent the ball into the box where his forwards were closing in to get a head on the ball and the Holy Names keeper followed the forwards to get in best position to make a save.

But after the ball missed all the forwards and defenders in the six-yard area, it took a bounce past the Hawks' goalie and into the far-right post for the second game-winner of the season for Rubalcava.

Biola will play its final home match of the regular season on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Dominican. The Eagles senior day celebration will be held before the match and free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches will be available between games, courtesy of Chick-Fil-A at the La Habra Marketplace.
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