Box Score LA JOLLA, Calif. — The Biola Eagles made some progress between match one and two as they opened the 2023 season on Saturday. Biola once again suffered a loss to a ranked opponent, but this match was much closer as BU played to just a 13-7 deficit to No. 20 Navy.

Maxwell Osborn had his first hat trick of the new year in this contest, putting up a team-high three of Biola's seven scores versus the Midshipmen. 

Roman Saroyan, a freshman from Clovis North High School, tallied his first pair of collegiate goals with two scores coming in the second half.

Just like game one of the day, Biola surrendered the first goal in this one and then answered back right away to make a 1-1 tie. Osborn scored first for BU, tucking one home just four seconds after a Navy player was called for the first exclusion of the match.

That Osborn score would be the only offense from Biola in a relatively tame first eight minutes. Navy scored three times, including twice in the final two minutes to lead by two at the break.

Osborn scored again three minutes into the second period, using a five-meter make to keep the BU deficit at two goals and move the game to 4-2. However, the Eagles would be held scoreless for five minutes after that as the Eagles failed to convert on back-to-back power plays.

Dominic Hidalgo-Valecillo got on the board for the first time in this new year when he buried one to open the third quarter. That made it a 6-3 game, but then Osborn completed his hat trick just about three minutes later to bring it even closer at 6-4. Back-to-back scores for the first time gave BU a surge in confidence as it continued to play Navy tight.

A goal from Navy broke the Eagles' scoring streak and made it 7-4 for a brief time, but the BU resilience was notable as they answered back with Saroyan's first goal just a minute later to keep it 7-5.

Unfortunately, Navy would go on to score four in a row and six of the next eight total goals to build up a bigger lead as the two teams finished the final 10 minutes. The five-goal deficit matches the distance between the two sides from their 2022 matchup. However, the narrow margin for three-fourths of the game can be seen as a clear sign of progress for this BU side.

Sunday will be a tough test and great opportunity for growth as Biola sees the University of Southern California for the first time. The Eagles begin play against the No. 2 team in the country at 10:30 a.m. in La Jolla. 

Statistical Standouts:
Biola Goals
Maxwell Osborn - 3
Roman Saroyan - 2
Dominic Hidalgo-Valecillo - 1
Nolan Rapp - 1

Biola Assists
John Grasso - 2
Maxwell Osborn - 1
Nolan Rapp - 1

Biola Steals
Adam LaVoy - 2
Caleb Hernandez - 1
Ryle Hibbard - 1
Luke Franklin - 1
Nolan Rapp - 1
John Grasso - 1
Kyle Seifen - 1

Biola Exclusions Drawn
Luke Franklin - 3
Joshua Halopoff - 3
Dominic Hidalgo-Valecillo - 1
Will Tibbetts - 1

Biola Field Blocks
John Grasso - 2
Roman Saroyan - 1