LA MIRADA, Calif. --- This year's matchup between Biola and Northwest Nazarene was such a carbon copy of the 2018 meeting that it could have induced a few chuckles at points. 

For the second time in as many meetings between these two teams, the second half at Al Barbour Field was stuffed with goals and included a penalty-kick goal for Northwest Nazarene that tied the match at 2-2. Unfortunately, Biola was not the team that prevailed with a last-second goal this time around, as a long service in the 88th minute carried into the top of the goal for the Nighthawks and gave them the 3-2 victory. 

This is the first win of the season for Northwest Nazarene and pushes the Nighthawks to 2-1 all-time against Biola. 

Even in Saturday's midafternoon heat, the Eagles quickly gained control of the match and maintained it for the first hour of play. The visiting side had more possession in the scoreless first half, but Biola had all of the dangerous scoring chances with six shots on total and an 8-to-2 advantage in overall chances. Senior Leo Thompson had three shots on goal during the first 45 minutes while Jacob Sorenson had a great breakaway chance at the 37-minute mark that the keeper was just able to push over the crossbar. 

The Eagles would eventually break through just after the 60th minute and strike twice in a 30-second span, with defender Henry Reeves providing assists on both goals. 

Jack MacDonald converted a great find by Reeves with a ball across the box that MacDonald used to change direction and shoot across goal to find Biola's first goal of the season. Then almost immediately following Biola's re-possession after kickoff, Reeves looped the ball forward for an acrobatic touch and goal by Hunter Finnegan that gave Head Coach Todd Elkins' side a 2-0 lead. 

But then Northwest Nazarene answered back with three unanswered goals: a put-away goal on a rebound 10 minutes after Finnegan's touch, the penalty five minutes later and the long strike from Garrison Lee just about two minutes before the end of regulation. 

Both teams have double digit shots and fouls in the match while NNU won the possession battle with 54 percent. MacDonald led his team with four shots and was followed closely by Thompson and Alex Lugo with three apiece. 

Biola will return to Al Barbour Field on Wednesday for its next match. The Eagles host Cal State San Marcos at 7 p.m.