Senior midfielder Zach Bautista pushes the ball up the field against a San Marcos defender on Tuesday night. Men’s soccer sneaks by San Marcos in their first shutout of the year on the strength of senior Cody Shelton’s goal and a strong performance by senior goalkeeper Aaron Fenlason. | Job Ang/THE CHIMES

Ruvalcaba’s assist, Shelton’s goal prove to be enough for the win

The Biola men’s soccer team got the start to the season they needed with a close 1-0 victory over Cal State San Marcos on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

The men got the best of the visiting Cougars in a game that held both teams scoreless well into the second half. Biola finally broke the tie in minute 65 when senior forward Marco Ruvalcaba lined up to take a corner kick for the Eagles. Senior defender Cody Shelton headed Ruvalcaba’s corner kick home after it deflected off of a Cougar defender.

Fenlason is stellar in shutout win

Biola’s first goal of the season proved to be more than enough support for senior goalkeeper Aaron Fenlason. Fenlason, a 2010 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics First-Team All-American, recorded four saves that night, keeping San Marcos out of the net in a match that dropped their record to 0-2 for the year.

Shelton’s goal was the breakthrough the Eagles had been waiting for all night. After many close calls in front of the Cougar net this one finally tipped in for Biola.

“Overall, a win is what you’re looking for in game one. The shutout is secondary,” said Biola head coach Bryan Kuderman, who is entering his 10th season at the post.

The Eagles out-shot the Cougars 16-7 including an overwhelming 9-3 difference in the second half. The aggression paid off for Biola as they got their first ever win against the Cougars after going 0-2-1 in the three contests.

In minute 78 it seemed as if the Cougars had tied up the match when the team celebrated as the ball was knocked in to the back of the net. However, the celebration was cut short after a foul was called against the Cougars bringing the goal back.

San Marcos also had one last shot as they brought everyone forward for a throw-in with less than 15 seconds left in the game. The ball was knocked away and the clock ran out, securing the Eagle victory.

“We are trying a new more creative and offensive-minded system,” Kuderman said. “We have a lot more diversity and can rely on players deeper in our line-up giving us more players we can use all over.”

“It was a great way to open. Good learning experience and we played with a great intensity. We can only go up,” Shelton said, summing up the start to the season.

Biola does not start Golden State Athletic Conference play until Oct. 1 when they take on Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. This year’s opening rankings have two GSAC teams in the top 15 in the NAIA with Azusa Pacific at No. 12 and Vanguard at No. 4.