LA MIRADA, Calif. — This Saturday at Al Barbour Field Biola University Men's Soccer (BUMS) is set to honor the 20th-anniversary of the program's first-ever league title. The members of the 2002 championship team will be welcomed back to the pitch for a pregame reception, halftime celebration and some postgame relationship-building with the 2022 team. 

The year 2002 was the first of 11 seasons under former head coach Bryan Kuderman, and the season was one for the ages for BU. The team used a win on the final day of its regular season to cement an 8-2 record and a seven-win increase from its 2001 conference mark of 1-9. It was the biggest turnaround in program history as this 2002 team set a new standard with 15 total victories, following a 2-14 2001 season. The 15 wins is still the most-ever by any Biola Men's Soccer team (tied with Joey O'Keefe's 2015 side).

The race to the 2002 league title was dripping with drama throughout the 10-match league season, as it featured underdog Biola neck-and-neck with a pair of programs sporting a combined 14 GSAC championships (Westmont, Fresno Pacific).

The schedule-makers got it right as that trio of teams each played one another during their ninth and 10th league games of the year, culminating in a deciding, double-overtime tilt between FPU and Westmont in Santa Barbara during the first week of November. Fresh off a loss to Biola four days earlier, Fresno Pacific came from behind and used a golden goal headed shot off a crossing pass to set down defending champs Westmont and create a three-way tie for the league title between the Eagles, Sunbirds and Warriors.

Kuderman's Eagles led the league with eight victories (8-2) and went 1-1 vs. Westmont and FPU. The Sunbirds and Warriors would each finish 7-1-2 and were both also 1-1 against the combination of BU/FPU/WC. Since all three teams finished with an .800 conference winning percentage they split the league title for the regular season and all three (plus 6-2-2 Concordia University Irvine) would represent the Golden State Athletic Conference in the six-team NAIA Region II playoffs.

Biola beat FPU once again in the first round of the regional playoffs before Westmont defeated the Eagles in the semifinals to set up a date with CUI. Concordia, the fourth-place team in the regular season, would go on to win the regional tournament and represent region II in the round of 16 at nationals. CUI lost to the eventual national runner-up, Park (Mo.), in a one-goal game.

Kuderman was awarded GSAC Coach of the Year for his efforts to turn Biola around after its lowest winning percentage in program history. Throughout his 11 years at the helm of the BUMS, Kuderman would lead Biola to 115 victories and eight postseason appearances. His 2009 team had his second-best conference finish (3rd) and made a run all the way to the NAIA quarterfinals, which is the best finish in program history.

The 2002 team was anchored by NAIA All-American goalkeeper Daniel Thibault and its leading scorers and All-GSAC selections, Dylan Martinez and Shaun Cole. Martinez and Cole both scored 16 goals, which is tied for 9th-most in a single season at Biola. Martinez led in points with 42 (10 assists), and his eight game-winning goals are still a program record. Cole had five game-winners of his own to sit second all-time in that category for Biola's single-season rankings.

Thibault led the team to a total of 10 shutouts over the course of their 15-6-1 overall record in 2002. He logged 104 saves for the year, which is fourth-most in any one season of Biola history. He was individually responsible for six shutouts and boasted a miniscule goals-against average of 1.04.

The turnaround for Biola was staggering. This was a BU team that scored 11 total goals in 2001 and was -23 to their opponents in goal differential. In 2002 the script flipped as the Eagles found the net 50 times and only allowed 24 goals (+26 in goal differential).

This team still holds the record for most wins in program history (15), most road wins in program history (9) and most consecutive road wins (7). Please join us Saturday night to celebrate this record-setting group of men as they make a triumphant return to a slightly elevated Biola soccer pitch.

See below for the complete 2002 GSAC Men's Soccer standings, a full progression of the championship season and the full roster.

2002 Golden State Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Standings
 

Team	Overall	Conference	Biola Result
Biola* (RV)	15-6-1	8-2-0	–
Westmont* (#8)	13-5-2	7-1-2	WC wins, 2-1
Fresno Pacific* (#16)	11-6-2	7-1-2	Biola wins, 1-0
Concordia	16-5-2	6-2-2	CUI wins, 2-1
Azusa Pacific	7-6-5	4-3-3	Biola wins, 4-0
Point Loma	8-6-5	3-3-4	Biola wins, 3-2
Vanguard	8-12	4-6-0	Biola wins, 5-0
California Baptist	6-8-2	3-5-2	Biola wins, 1-0
The Master's	9-7-2	3-6-1	Biola wins, 5-1
Hope International	2-16-2	1-7-2	Biola wins, 1-0
San Diego Christian	5-13-2	0-10-0	Biola wins, 3-2

*tri-champions

Biola University 2002 Men's Soccer Statistics
Biola University 2002 Men's Soccer Schedule/Results

2002 GSAC Men's Soccer Awards
2002 GSAC Men's Soccer Statistical Leaders
2002 GSAC Men's Soccer Schedule/Results
 

Season Progression
Game 1: 4-0 win vs. Hope International in Salt Lake City, Utah (1-0 Overall) - August 22, 2002
Just a few months after the winter Olympics took up residence in Salt Lake City, Utah the Biola Men's Soccer team began its 2002 season with a trio of games in the same city at a tournament hosted by Westminster College. Two goals from Matias Ichaso paced the effort for Biola in a season-opening non-conference win. Ichaso was a returning player, a sophomore midfielder from Argentina. He had not scored his freshman year. He would go on to score three goals total in 2002.

Game 2: 0-2 loss vs. Concordia University Irvine in Salt Lake City, Utah (1-1 Overall) - August 23, 2002
Concordia was coming off a 9-win season in 2001 under second-year head coach Don Ebert. CUI would go on to be one of four double-digit win teams from the GSAC in this 2002 season. More on them later. This match is one of only two times in this season where Biola was shutout, more on that later.

Game 3: 2-1 road win vs. Westminster College (Utah) (2-1 Overall) - August 24, 2002
Playing an unfathomable third match in three days, Biola concluded its time in Salt Lake City, Utah with a 2-1 non-conference victory over the hosting Westminster College Griffins. Dylan Martinez netted his second score of the year, and it was his second game-winner as he followed-up an unassisted goal by Chris Becher who marked down his first collegiate goal. This game was one of two double-digit save efforts for NAIA All-American Daniel Thibault. He had 10 stops in the narrow victory.

Game 4: 1-2 road loss vs. Redlands (2-2 Overall) - September 2, 2002
David Munoz scored his first of three goals on the season as Biola's offense struggles to find the back of the net at Redlands. His goal was assisted by Shaun Cole, who had assists on three of Biola's first seven goals of the season to this point. Cole had yet to score to that point, but he'd definitely find his scoring form sooner rather than later.

Game 5: 4-0 road win vs. La Verne (3-2 Overall) - September 3, 2002
Kuderman's Eagles tie their season-best effort with a 4-0 shutout of the Leopards. This shutout two of 10 for Biola in this season, and it was the only one manned by sophomore keeper David McReavy. Martinez and Cole both scored, and Martinez added an assist to lead the team in points during this rout. Brady Goss and Landon Roser scored their only goals of the year in this one.

Game 6: 1-0 home win vs. CSU Los Angeles (4-2 Overall) - September 5, 2002
For the first time in this season Kuderman's bunch managed back-to-back victories. This was Biola's third-straight victory over CSULA, after the Golden Eagles controlled the all-time series with a 7-1-2 advantage before the new millennium. Thibault had six saves in the winning effort, while the game's only goal was tallied by Martinez and set up by Becher. 

Game 7: 2-5 road loss vs. CSU San Bernardino (4-3 Overall) - September 7, 2002
Playing their fourth match in six days proved to be too much for BU as the Eagles allow a season-high five goals in their third loss of the year. This was a season where CSU San Bernardino opened up with five-consecutive victories before the wheels came off a bit and the Coyotes finished 9-9-1. Cole and Martinez scored Biola's only goals in this one.

Game 8: 2-0 road win vs. Whittier (5-3 Overall) - September 11, 2002
On the 1-year anniversary of the September 11 tragedy, coach Kuderman's side lifted spirits with a shutout win on the road against NCAA Division III foe, Whittier. The Eagles scored two goals on 13 shots while Whittier mustered just one shot-on-goal in the contest for a relatively straightforward win. This win would launch a streak of six-consecutive contests where BU would be unbeaten. Shaun Cole scored a brace in this one to move up to four goals and three assists on the year. He moved to just one goal back of Martinez' five for the team-lead.

Game 9: 6-0 home win vs. Menlo (6-3 Overall) - September 20, 2002
This marked Biola's largest margin of victory during its 2002 season as it picked up a fifth shutout victory while piling on the six goals. Cole and Martinez ended this contest tied for the team lead in scoring as Cole had a hat trick and Martinez netted a pair. Freshman midfielder Keith Coburn picked up his only points of the year as he accounted for the sixth Biola goal. This combined with the Whittier win was the second time BU managed back-to-back shutout wins in 2002. It would happen three times total in the run of the year. It was also the second match in a row where the Biola keepers only had to make one save to keep a clean sheet.

Game 10: 1-1 home draw vs. Chapman (6-3-1 Overall) - September 25, 2002
For the first time this season overtime was necessary in a game for the BUMS. It took 110 minutes to sort out a 1-1 tie against the Panthers in Biola's final preseason contest. Chris Becher set up junior midfielder Dan Miller for the integral only goal for Biola. Coincidentally, both times Miller scored in 2002 he accounted for Biola's only goal in that match. Miller had just one goal and no assists in 2001, and he improved to two goals, two assists in 2002. 

Game 11: 3-2 road win vs. San Diego Christian (7-3-1 Overall, 1-0-0 in GSAC) - October 2, 2002
Biola begins its conference title quest against San Diego Christian, which was referred to as Christian Heritage College at the time. The Eagles escaped their opponents from down south with a narrow 3-2 victory, allowing a goal for the first time in three times out. It was an answer back to a 2-1 loss against CHC. It was "D-day" for Biola as all three goals came from a player whose name began with a D. Dylan Martinez notched his second multi-goal game of the year, while David Munoz scored Biola's third goal. Dan Miller even tossed in an assist to keep the theme alive. It was a bit of an unexpected thriller against an opponent who would ultimately end the season 0-10-0 in GSAC play. But, a win is a win, and each of those would prove critical in this championship run.

Game 12: 5-1 home win vs. The Master's (8-3-1 Overall, 2-0-0 in GSAC) - October 5, 2002
As fate would have it, Biola began its league season with matches against two of the teams that would end bottom three on the conference table by the end of the year. The visiting Mustangs would close 2002 with a 3-6-1 conference mark despite a respectable 9-7-2 overall record. This contest was not a very respectable one for the Mustangs, though. This five-goal outburst was one of six times in the year where Kuderman's team managed four or more goals. Martinez kept the good times rolling with a hat trick to account for 60 percent of the scoring and increase his season tally to 12 goals through the first 12 matches. One of his goals was set up by Cole, who had a goal and assist in the effort. The fifth tally came courtesy Nicholas Kinnier who was assisted by Matt Cecil's only point of the campaign.

Game 13: 4-0 road win vs. Azusa Pacific (9-3-1 Overall, 3-0-0 in GSAC) - October 8, 2002
Biola had not beaten Azusa Pacific since the 1995 season, but that changed in an emphatic way during this third GSAC matchup of 2002. The Eagles outscored the Cougars 4-0 in what ties the largest margin of victory for either team across the 69 all-time meetings between the two sides. Only 4-0 Biola wins in 2002 and 1976 showed as much dominance. Thibault was a perfect 4-for-4 in save chances and BU got two goals from Cole to pace the offense. The second tally was the 10th of the year for Cole, a seven-goal improvement after he led the 2001 team with three goals.

Game 14: 1-2 home loss vs. #14 Concordia (9-4-1 Overall, 3-1-0 in GSAC) - October 12, 2002
Biola had its six-match unbeaten streak come to a halt as it dropped a match to its rivals from Concordia for the second time this season. This time, it resulted in the first mark against the Eagles' previously unblemished conference mark. This was a marquee matchup, as Concordia was No. 14 in the NAIA at the time and entered this contest with a 8-3-1, 2-0-1 GSAC record. The visiting Eagles may have had the advantage on this day, but losses later in the season to Point Loma (3-0) and Fresno Pacific (2-0) would cost them a shot at the GSAC title. 

Game 15: 1-0 home win vs. California Baptist (10-4-1 Overall, 4-1-0 in GSAC) - October 16, 2002
Martinez avoided a stretch of three matches in a row without a goal by netting the game's only score in lifting his side to a thrilling 1-0 home victory over the now-NCAA Division I Lancers. This marked his sixth game-winning goal of the season. This win snapped a two-year losing streak to CBU and was Biola's 15th all-time victory over the team from Riverside. This was the first of another stretch of back-to-back shutouts. Following this victory, Biola's 4-1 record in conference play had them just behind Westmont (4-0-1) and FPU (3-0-1) at the halfway point.

Game 16: 5-0 road win vs. Vanguard (11-4-1 Overall, 5-1-0 in GSAC) - October 19, 2002
Kuderman's side improved to 3-0 in conference road matches with this positive result. The team thrived on the road all season long, compiling a 9-2 record in true road matches including a 6-0 mark in regular season road contests against GSAC teams. Shaun Cole had his second hat trick of the season in this one and Joel Thompson got his name on the score sheet for the first time with an unassisted goal. It was the first career goal for the sophomore defender. Westmont beat CBU 6-0 on this same night and Fresno Pacific also got a win so all three teams sat at five victories. 

Game 17: 3-2 home win vs. Point Loma (12-4-1 Overall, 6-1-0 in GSAC) - October 22, 2002
In its return home Biola earned a gritty and important one-goal victory over its rivals from San Diego. Point Loma had earned a draw with Fresno Pacific earlier in the year, and Biola knew it would need a win to keep from falling behind in the title race. The weight of the offense fell onto familiar shoulders as each of the three scores came from Martinez or Cole as BU outlasted the then-titled Crusaders. Martinez scored the final two goals to earn number 14 and 15 on the season for himself. Joe Lurker had the assist on the game-winning goal with just his second assist of the year. Fun fact: Point Loma would change their mascot to Sea Lions the following summer. This win locked in a 19-7-1 all-time record for Biola against PLNU during the Crusaders era. It was the first win for BU since the 1997 season. 

Game 18: 1-0 road win vs. Hope International (13-4-1 Overall, 7-1-0 in GSAC) - October 26, 2002
Biola capped off its longest winning streak of the season (4 matches) with its third shutout win over the span of four contests. The Eagles needed just the one score to set down Hope International and improve to 10-0 all-time against the Royals. The single score came from Andrew Sodestrom and was the only points of the season for the freshman out of Santa Rosa. This win setup quite the race to the finish for the GSAC title. Biola sat at 7-1 overall and it's final two opponents of the year were right there with them as Westmont and FPU both had a 6-0-2 mark.

Game 19: 1-2 home loss vs. #5 Westmont (13-5-1 Overall, 7-2-0 in GSAC) - October 28, 2002
David Munoz and Joe Lurker connected for Biola's lone goal just six minutes into the match, but the Eagles failed their attempt to dethrone Westmont on the BU home turf. The Warriors' win had them salivating over a second-consecutive GSAC Championship as they improved to 7-0-2 with only Fresno Pacific left on the schedule. This contest was the 54th all-time meeting between these two bitter rivals, and it was the 25th time a contest was decided by one goal or fewer. Westmont's Danny Collins scored both goals for them as they took the lead in the second half. Collins would lead the conference in goals (21) and points (47) that year. 

Game 20: 1-0 road win vs. #17 Fresno Pacific (14-5-1 Overall, 8-2-0 in GSAC) - October 30, 2002
A Dylan Martinez golden goal in the 103rd minute gave Biola an overtime victory that would ultimately clinch a share of its first-ever Golden State Athletic Conference regular season championship. It was just the second overtime game of the year, but Thibault and the Eagles stood their ground on the road, holding the high-powered FPU offense without a goal to get the walk-off victory. FPU had three of the top-10 point earners in the league, and the Sunbirds' 63 goals in 2002 were second only to Westmont's 68. They got zero of their seven shots-on-goal past Thibault, while Biola converted on one of eight on its end of the pitch. Biola had lost six of their last seven matches against Fresno Pacific, but the Eagles got this one when it mattered most.

BONUS: #17 Fresno Pacific def. #6 Westmont in double-overtime - November 2, 2002
In front of a crowd of nearly 500 people, Westmont College hosted the FPU Sunbirds with a chance to close out an undefeated conference season and lock up sole possession of the conference title. This was a battle of conference heavyweights as Westmont carried with it 10 league titles from 1986-90, 93-95, 1998 and 2001 and FPU won the league four times, including in 1991-92 and 1998-99. Westmont entered 7-0-2, carrying ties with Concordia (1-1) and Point Loma (2-2). FPU entered at 6-1-2 as the Sunbirds had the loss against Biola four days prior and ties with Point Loma (1-1) and Azusa Pacific (1-1).

FPU took the lead as one of their two leading scorers, Orlando Ramirez, found the twine in the fourth minute. Westmont took a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute with a stunning sequence of back-to-back goals in a 28-second span. The second goal was scored by Westmont's second-leading scorer for the season, Mark Oehlman. FPU scored again 73 minutes exactly to equalize the game and set up overtime. Similarly to how Biola had Martinez and Cole both tie for the team-lead with 16 goals, Fresno Pacific's Ramirez tied for the team lead with an individual as both had 15 goals. That individual was sophomore Eddie Gutierrez, and it was Gutierrez whose head clinched a GSAC title for Biola (and FPU and Westmont). The 5-foot-6-inch transfer from Fresno State got his head on a long cross into the box and deposited it past Westmont's Nick Hammond just about two minutes into the second overtime to give FPU the stunning 3-2 win.

As a result of that, BU's eight wins would be enough to clinch a share of the conference title as all three teams finished with a .800 winning percentage in league play and each team was 1-1 against the others in the group. 

Playoff Summary
The regional playoffs began just four days after FPU's upset over Westmont. All three teams plus Concordia represented the GSAC in the six-team regional field that also included CSU Monterey Bay and Notre Dame de Namur. Concordia finished fourth in league play at 6-2-2, but CUI entered the regional tournament as the number two seed to earn a first-round bye along with No. 1 seed Westmont. 

Biola defeated FPU for the second time in a week during the first round matchup of the No. 3 seeded Sunbirds and No. 6 seed Eagles. BU's final two goals of the season came from Shaun Cole as he scored both tallies necessary for the Eagles' 2-1 win. Fittingly, the game-winner was set up with an assist from his bash brother, Martinez. 

Five days later the season came to a close as BU drew a well-rested Westmont side that hadn't played since the loss to FPU. The Warriors had home-field advantage and used goals from three different players to work a 3-0 regional semifinal win. The Warriors got a bit of a taste of their own medicine five days after that as they saw visiting Concordia score two goals in the final 20 minutes of play to earn a 3-1 win and regional championship.

CUI would be eliminated in the round of 16 to close out this thrilling season of SoCal soccer.

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2002 Biola Men's Soccer Roster
 

0	Daniel Thibault	GK	6-1	SO	Cardiff, Calif.
00	Aaron Bernabe	GK	6-2	SO	Albuquerque, N.M.
1	David McReavy	GK	6-1	SO	Fort Collins, Colo.
2	Dan Miller	MF	5-6	JR	Encinitas, Calif.
3	Nathanael Gonzalez	MF	5-7	SR	Temple City, Calif.
4	Joe Lurker	D	5-10	SO	Laguna Niguel, Calif.
5	Matias Ichaso	MF	5-9	SO	Rio Cuarto, Argentina
6	Nathan Habben	MF	6-0	SO	Modesto, Calif.
7	Shaun Cole	F	6-1	SR	Visalia, Calif.
8	Nicholas Kinnier	MF	5-9	SO	Turlock, Calif.
9	Edmund McCorkle	MF	6-1	SO	Rialto, Calif.
10	Dylan Martinez	F	5-11	SO	Ames, Iowa
11	David Munoz	MF	5-10	SR	Yorba Linda, Calif.
12	Brady Goss	MF	5-9	JR	Auburn, Calif.
13	Andrew Sodestrom	F	6-0	FR	Santa Rosa, Calif.
15	Sam Orr	F	6-2	FR	La Mirada, Calif.
16	Ben Clark	D	6-0	FR	Medford, Ore.
17	Jeff Loper	D	5-11	JR	San Diego, Calif.
18	Jon Baker	D	6-0	FR	Ontario, Calif.
19	Landon Roser	MF	5-11	FR	Carson City, Nevada
20	Chris Becher	F	6-2	FR	Brea, Calif.
21	Matt Cecil	D	6-1	FR	Whittier, Calif.
22	Joel Thompson	D	6-3	SO	Sun City, Calif.
25	Keith Coburn	MF	5-10	FR	Citrus Heights, Calif.

Head Coach: Bryan Kuderman
Assistant Coaches: Phil Yovino, Mark Wade