LA MIRADA, Calif. --- It's been almost two weeks since Biola Men's Soccer returned from Japan and that means the 2019 regular season is right around the corner. The Eagles have two preseason friendlies under their belt in the time since they've returned and will continue their self-evaluation into week one of the season as Biola matches up with Point Loma in a non-conference tilt and Northwest Nazarene at home. 

The season opening matchup with Point Loma should give the Eagles a sense of what they need to do to climb into PacWest title contention this season since the Sea Lions were ranked ahead of Biola in the PacWest Preseason Poll. Then the match at home against NNU specifically will show how Head Coach Todd Elkins' team has improved compared to last year since the Nighthawks are coming back to Al Barbour Field after falling to the Eagles in a back-and-forth 3-2 match that was won with a last-minute goal by captain Kousei Mattox. 

Coming into this season, the Eagles are ranked sixth in the PacWest conference and have two Preseason All-PacWest selections in forward Leo Thompson and centerback Jake Munivez. Thompson will be part of the lion's share of activity in attack and will combine with the likes of Jack MacDonald and Oscar Rubalcava, among others, on a regular basis to get Biola in the back of the net. 

Munivez should be joined once again on the backline by Henry Reeves, but there are two open spots on defense with the graduation of captains Parker Setran and Kousei Mattox. Hunter Finnegan has seen time on the backline during training in recent weeks, so expect him to be one of the men who step up to fill one of the openings in a starting XI that is filled with opportunity for Elkins' group. 

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 (0-0) at Point Loma (0-0): Thursday, Sep. 5 at 2 p.m. \\ Live Stats \\ Live Video
The Sea Lions went 1-0-1 against the Eagles a year ago, taking the non-conference match that was played more like an exhibition for both teams and holding onto a tie in San Diego at the end of the year. That tie at Point Loma was the start of a three-match unbeaten streak to conclude the 2018 regular season for Biola.

Thursday's match may also play like an exhibition for both teams in terms of the way both teams use their personnel. But don't be surprised if you see the Eagles play more aggressively for three points because a quality win on the road would be a great start for Biola's resume come Regional selection time. Point Loma was ranked third in the PacWest Preseason Poll and have two Preseason All-PacWest players. The Sea Lions return just five starters overall and will have to play a goalkeeper who has never started a match for them because Wiktor Lasota graduated. But among the Sea Lions returners is forward Tim Siegfried, who scored a team-high 16 goals in 2018. 

PLNU charges $10 for general admission to their soccer matches and tickets can be purchased in advance through the PLNU Athletics Website. Directions to the soccer field can be found on their facility page. 

BIOLA (0-0) vs Northwest Nazarene (0-0) : Saturday Sep. 7 at 2 p.m. \\ Live Stats \\ Live Video
After losing to Biola in a nailbiter a year ago, the Nighthawks went 3-10-0 the rest of the way in 2018 and were picked to finish seventh in the GNAC this year. Northwest Nazarene has a new coach in Adam Pearce and returns a second team All-GNAC forward in Jake Levine. And like Biola, NNU will also play a road match on Thursday when the Nighthawks face Cal State LA. The Eagles are 1-1 overall against Northwest Nazarene after last year's win and are looking to get their home slate started on the right foot. Biola has not had a losing home record in over a decade and went 5-3-1 at Al Barbour Field last year.