LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Head Coach Todd Elkins' team exceeded expectations time and again during its first season of NCAA DII competition in 2017, finishing in the top half of the PacWest and playing very close matches against some of the best teams in the region.

And now that the Eagles have a clear sense of what competition in the PacWest is like, their mission is to use 2017's success as building blocks this year to take steps toward becoming one of the conference's elite teams. With the departure of California Baptist and Dixie State from the PacWest headed into the 2018 season, the Eagles' goal of competing at the top with the likes of Point Loma and Notre Dame De Namur is definitely within reach.

The Eagles have taken a first step toward that goal by scheduling another competitive list of conference opponents in 2018. Biola's entire schedule is made up of NCAA DII programs and looks very similar to the type of schedule they will need to have to qualify for NCAA regional playoffs in the future.

Elkins' team will play three countable games against California schools in the CCAA and two more in scrimmages to begin the year. The Eagles open up the year with a road test against UC San Diego on Aug. 30 and then will play their first match at Al Barbour Field on Sept. 8 against CSU San Bernardino.

After two more home games, Biola will begin to face PacWest opponents on Sept. 19 when the No. 24 Point Loma Sea Lions come to La Mirada in a non-conference match. The conference schedule starts officially on Sept. 27 and will consist of 11 matches. The Eagles begin that slate with a trip to Northern California to face Academy of Art and Notre Dame De Namur before making their first trip to Hawai'i for three matches from Oct. 11 to Oct. 16.

Shortly after they return from Hawai'i, the Eagles will have the pleasure of hosting the Azusa Pacific Cougars at Al Barbour Field for the first time since the two institutions reignited their rivalry with the Cornerstone Cup. All 10 Cornerstone Cup points for both men's and women's soccer will be up for grabs on Saturday Oct. 27. Like all the other home matches during conference play, the men and women's matches against APU will begin at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively.

The regular season concludes with a home match against Dominican on Nov. 3 at 4:00 p.m. and will include a senior night celebration. Biola will need to finish somewhere near the top of the PacWest to qualify for NCCAA postseason and continue matches through the rest of November and into December. For more information on the program, visit the men's soccer team page.