SAN RAFAEL, Calif. --- To use the old commentators' cliché, the fans at Kennelly Field didn't even have their seats warm by the time the first and only goal was scored in Saturday's men's soccer match between the Dominican Penguins and Biola.
Freshman
Alex Lugo scored the first goal of his collegiate career in the third minute and Head Coach
Todd Elkins' team would hold that lead until the final whistle to record their first road win of the season. Biola also remains undefeated in PacWest play with a 1-0-1 record after the 1-0 victory, marking the third-straight match that the Eagles were the team to score first.
Lugo got his second starting nod for Biola and it didn't take him long to become a facilitator in the attack. After the Eagles found him above the penalty area, Lugo passed to
Oscar Rubalcava on his left and immediately asked for "one more" as he continued his run forward toward goal. Rubalcava threaded the ball past the lunging leg of a Dominican defender and Lugo left-footed it past the keeper to the far right post, giving Biola the early lead.
Lugo's goal would be the only shot on goal during the first half for Biola, since the match got more physical as time wore on. Both teams took four shots in the first half and six chances in the second. But both sides also logged 15 fouls or more during the 90 minutes.
Eagles' keeper
JD Gunn did exactly what Biola needed from him after Lugo scored, making a save on Dominican's very next shot after the Penguins went down 1-0. Gunn earned his clean sheet with two saves in each half, including two saves in the final seven minutes of regulation on shots from Dominican's best forward, Luke Raley.
Biola is now 3-0 in the NCAA DII era against Dominican, having won at Al Barbour Field each of the last two years. The Eagles will return home for their next five matches in PacWest play. First up is a meeting with Academy of Art on Thursday October 17 at 7 p.m.
The Eagles are also home Saturday night, which will be La Mirada Soccer Association Night at Al Barbour Field! All coaches and players from LMSA will receive free admission and parents of LMSA players can get tickets for a discounted price of $3.
