LA MIRADA, Calif. --- When the PacWest schedules were released earlier this summer, Head Coach Todd Elkins' group circled the stretch of seven matches that begins with Thursday's fixture at Holy Names as a set of games the Eagles needed to own and dominate. 

Biola faces the bottom four teams in the PacWest Preseason Poll over the first five matches of the conference schedule, including its two opponents this week in Holy Names and Dominican, before wrapping up a long home stretch at the end of the month with two favorable matchups with Hawaii schools. The Eagles are banking on the results from these next seven matches to serve as the base for their momentum headed into big matchups against their in-conference rivals to finish the regular season, so one can only expect that they'll try to earn two more statement wins that parallel Biola's home victory against Concordia Irvine last week. 

During that victory, Biola's attack was impressively sharp and strong as it scored three goals against Concordia. Coach Elkins' group maintained constant pressure that kept Concordia bottled up while also resulting in two first-half goals coming off long throw-ins from Hunter Finnegan. Then Biola took advantage of its best scoring opportunity of the second half when freshman Jack Kilgallon found space for the ball in the box that setup a first-touch blast from Jacob Sorenson for the first goal of his collegiate career. 

That last match, along with the Eagles' back-to-back goals at Cal State LA two weeks ago, has given Biola an established attacking presence that is all their own. So it's going to be exciting to see what the Eagles produce this week given that high level of confidence. 
 
MULTIMEDIA: Live video and live stats will be provided free of charge for all Biola home contests. See links and cost for road contests in the previews below.

TICKETS: Biola home events are always free to Biola students, staff, faculty and alumni. Children 12 and under are also always free. General admission is $6 and discounted tickets for opposing school students, guests under 18 and seniors are $4. See ticketing information for road contests below each preview below.


BIOLA (2-4-1) at Holy Names (3-5-1, 0-1-1 PacWest): Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.\\ Live Stats \\ Live Video
Holy Names' men's soccer team has been mostly feast or famine so far in the 2019 season, getting three goals in each of the Hawks' wins but one goal or fewer in the team's other six matches. The Hawks have also been in a dry spell of late since they haven't scored in their last three matches, the last two of which came at home. But it is noteworthy that the Hawks earned a scoreless draw against Point Loma to start conference play last Thursday before losing by two goals to now No. 1 ranked Azusa Pacific. When Holy Names has found the back of the net, the majority of the goals have come from senior midfielder Ramon Jr. Gutierrez with four and senior forward Josiah Romero with three. Gutierrez currently finds himself in the PacWest's top-10 for goal scorers with his four scores this season. 

Biola is 2-0 against the Hawks in the Eagles' NCAA era with identical 2-1 wins in Hayward in 2017 and at Al Barbour Field last year. The only returning student-athlete to score for Biola against HNU is Oscar Rubalcava, who delivered a golden goal in the first overtime period last November. 

Thursday's match will be played at Pioneer Soccer Stadium on the campus of Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif. Holy Names charges $10 for general admission and $5 for minors over the age of 12. 

BIOLA (2-4-1) at Domincan Penguins (1-5-1, 0-1 PacWest) : Saturday Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. \\ Live Stats \\ Live Video
In contrast to the Hawks' scoring troubles, Dominican's problems have been more in the defensive third of the pitch as the Penguins surrendered an average of 2.7 goals per match. Even with the graduation of striker Wilson Briggs, the Penguins still have a dependable scorer in Luke Raley, who has five goals and two assists this season. But Dominican still hasn't won a match in over a month and is 0-5-1 at home to start the 2019 campaign. The Penguins will travel to Fresno on Wednesday to face Fresno Pacific at 7 p.m. before returning San Rafael to host the Eagles Saturday. 

It will be the fifth all-time meeting between Biola and Dominican, with the Eagles taking victory in the last three and the two matches played as PacWest peers. Head Coach Todd Elkins' group has scored a total of eight goals in those two matches, with senior forward Leo Thompson recording a hat trick in Biola's 3-1 win last year. But each of those matches were played in La Mirada and Saturday's match will be Biola's first trip to San Rafael since 2007. 

Dominican charges $5 for admission to soccer matches for everyone 14 years of age or older. The match will be played at Kennelly Field in San Rafael.