The men’s soccer team got the rematch they have waited for since the Golden State Athletic Conference playoffs last season when they played Concordia University on Oct. 15. Biola outscored Concordia 3-2 in the first half, but Concordia answered with the only goal scored in the second half, pushing the game into overtime. After two overtimes the game ended in a tie, 3-3.
Last season Biola lost to Concordia 3-2 in the GSAC Championships after splitting games with them in the regular season. This game marked the first time these teams have played each other since the championship game. The history between Concordia and Biola has developed into an intense rivalry.
“It’s huge this year for sure” said senior midfielder Michael Kute. “Even though neither of us are the top team this year, we still just have that desire to beat each other. I know I have that, especially after that final game last year.”
Concordia got on the board first with a penalty kick goal seven minutes into the game. Biola quickly answered when junior midfielder John Hanscom scored in the fourteenth minute off of an assist from senior forward Alex Kincade.
The teams continued to exchange goals when Concordia scored again two minutes after Hanscom and junior midfielder Joey O’Keefe answered with a goal for Biola off of a free kick. Biola got one more goal with five minutes left in the half when freshman midfielder Jarrett Pugh successfully placed a cross in the lower corner. Biola entered the half with a lead of 3-2.
The Eagles held on to the lead for most of the second half until Concordia knocked in a header with eight minutes left in regulation. This goal sent the game into overtime with a score of 3-3.
After two scoreless overtimes, the game ended in a tie. These two teams last tied in 2009.
“Yeah, we don’t like each other that much,” said junior forward Stephen Tanquary. “I think because we have gone back and forth with wins and stuff, and we’ve always been top contenders for GSAC, and just the fact that they knocked us out last year and before I was here three years back we beat them in the championship. It’s just one of those rivalries where it has nothing to do with the geography or anything like that, we just play each other and don’t like each other.”
The Eagles do not have another regular season game against Concordia this year.
Biola plays Vanguard University on Oct. 18. The Lions currently stand 7-6 for the season with a conference record of 3-3. Vanguard beat Concordia 3-2 in a double overtime earlier this season.
“We’re kind of struggling right now,” said Tanquary. “We’re right at the bottom of the pack for a playoff spot so we need to win all the games that we can, and we’re taking this one game at a time.”
