Written by Anntte Jordan

After a 48-year history of soccer at Biola, the men’s team has set the highest winning record for the start of a season with a 5-0-0 record so far this year.

The Academy of the Arts left Al Barbour field on Monday afternoon with a 4-1 deficit loss against the Eagles of Biola, and a long ride home to San Francisco ahead. The Eagles out shot the Knights 24-6.

“The boys are reproducing over 50 shots, creating a lot of chances and with precision – we just want to convert more of them – but the boys are undefeated so it’s a good start,” Head Coach Bryan Kuderman said.

Biola was lead by sophomore Kennedy Chongo and freshman Marco Ruvalcaba, who both scored a pair of goals. In the first 10 minutes, Chongo made a quick run for the goal, shooting with two Knight defenders on him and making it past the goalie with a shot that landed straight in the back corner of the net.

“With the end result it was how we had hoped,” said Kuderman. “We gave up a goal that we shouldn’t have, and we want to improve on that element of discipline.”

In the 27th minute, the Eagles provided opportunity and the Knights took advantage of the letdown with a quick flick goal over goalie Tyler Higgins. However, Higgins did not disappoint, making his comeback with three saves for Biola after deflecting the Urban Knights’ numerous attempts to convert chances into goals.

“We gave away a shot, they were not a better team than us, but then Coach talked to us at half time and we went out ready,” said Humberto Toscan. “After we scored in the second half we felt free and were able to relax.”

With a pass coming from behind the defense in the 37th minute, Phillip Friehe made an assisted pass to Ruvalcaba who then executed a perfect strike after beating the Urban Knight goalie in a one-on-one, leaving the score at 2-1 going into halftime.

During the early second half, Biola spread the lead with another goal by Chongo. Derek Friehe made a cross to Chongo who then headed the ball past the Knights’ goalie leaving the score at 3-1, allowing Biola to be sufficiently ahead. As the 90-minute mark approached, Ruvalcaba barely stayed onside to receive the pass from senior Nick Bautista that sent the ball into the goal with a quick touch to the far side of the box, ending in a final score win of 4-1 for the Eagles.

The Eagles are in Arizona this Saturday to face Embry-Riddle University at 7 p.m.