LA MIRADA, Calif. – In their 51st meeting Vanguard and Biola faced off for their first-ever Pacific West Conference clash. Both sides saw chances, but it was the Lions that excelled going forward, as the freshmen force of Niko Ochoa and Adan Alvarado played a role in all three goals of a 3-1 VU win at Al Barbour Field.

Ochoa scored in both halves to earn his first career brace and fifth goal of the season to place him eighth in the PacWest. Alvarado hit his first career game-winner and added an assist to hoist him to seven total points on the year.

The Lions (7-3-2, 5-2-1) earned their fourth win in the last five games and maintained their unbeaten record on the road this season. Biola dropped to 6-8-1 overall and 4-4 in the conference.

In his first career start, Anthony Hernandez-Perez fired two shots. Freshman Shaun Im found a career-high four shots, with two on target.

Aidan Hay made a career-best six saves, including a key second-half penalty kick stop to keep the VU lead intact. Vanguard led the match in shots 19-11, but the Eagles held a slight edge in shots on goal 7-6. BU had seven corners while VU earned five.

What Happened?: The Eagles attacked within the opening three minutes, as a powered shot to the top corner was pressed away by Hay. The Lions earned a cluster of chances through three successive corner kicks, as shots from Lucah Flores and Alvarado were blocked and belted away.

VU earned the breakthrough after Alvarado whipped a fantastic ball from the right which bent around the last defenders to find Ochoa. The striker darted past the keeper and fired the Blue and Gold in front. Biola's brightest moment of the half came from a free kick on the left side of the box, as the effort from Justin Eisenmann clipped the crossbar.

After a late VU challenge in the box in the 52nd minute, BU was well in sight to equalize from the penalty spot. Hay, however, had other plans, as the left-footed strike from Ethan Hardin was forced away from the bottom right corner. It was Hay's second penalty kick save this season and just the second career miss (2-4) for Hardin.

The Blue and Gold doubled their advantage in the 68th minute as Alvarado started the move with an interception deep in the VU half. An intricate move down the right between Aidan Doherty and Flores opened the space, and Alvarado picked up the ball on the right edge of the box. The freshman's trailing run was finished with a sweeping strike, buried to the bottom left corner.

While Biola earned a goal back from a corner kick in the 74th minute, the stretched-out game favored the Lions and allowed them to sustain a threat on the break. VU dealt the final blow in the 86th minute after Im's ball beat the offside trap and launched Alvarado down the left wing. The midfielder cut inside and drove the ball to Ochoa, who switched the ball to his left foot and nestled a tidy finish into the net.

What Was Said?: "After a disappointing draw last game, our guys responded with some big time goals," acknowledged Head Coach Jesus (Chuy) Miramontes. "We battled hard and really stuck to the game plan for another great team effort. Proud of these guys."

What's Next? The Blue and Gold will take on an in-form Menlo College as they head to Atherton on Thursday, October 31 at 1:00 p.m.